Gender-Based Violence Prevention project officially launched in Namibia

Posted on 1 March 2021

“Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.”

FXB International and their partner Hope Initiative Southern Africa – Namibia (HISA NAMIBIA) under the European Union co-funded project EIDHR/2019/163-526, officially launched project entitled “Curbing GBV, Violence, empowering women and children living in informal settlements of Khomas, Otjizondjupa and Hardap Regions of Namibia by equipping communities, Men and Boys to be human rights defenders and Agents of Change” on February 10, 2021.

The project action will be implemented from July 2020 to June 2023 and present a proactive approach to human rights awareness, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by scaling up current actions through a contextually tailored response system. The project is aimed at strengthening informal settlements’ women/child protection and violence prevention systems, promote safety and empower women and girls in human rights in particular GBV, by enabling and engaging communities, men and boys to be defenders Agents of Change.

Contextually swift approach to curbing GBV in informal settlements

This human rights focused project in informal settlements that have limited service provision, community cohesion, extension of response services for GBV survivors will operate nationally in Namibia, specifically targeting Khomas Region’s Tobias Hainyeko Informal Settlements, Otjizonjupa Region’s Vyf Rand Informal Settlement, Okahandja and Groot Aub Settlements, Hardap region. Within the project, Survivors of GBV will be accorded an appropriate response in safe spaces intervention through a referral system defined by protocol, use of toolkits contextualised for community women and girls at risk /who may have already experienced GBV. The project will seek to work with existing structures, most especially action proposed and contained in the National Plan of Action (NPA) on Gender-Based Violence 2019-2023; Survivors first, Safety Net and Community Care, and Transforming Gender Norms for Long Term Prevention.

The project is valued at 319’910 euros, with the European Union contributing 75% of the costs (239’933 euros).

The project launch event was held at HISA community center, and attended by her Excellency the Ambassador of the EU in Namibia, his Excellency the Ambassador of France, representatives from Swiss, Finnish and Spanish Embassies and Consulates, as well as honorable autorities’ and ministries’ representatives, CSO partners, and medias.

Her Excellency the EU Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila

 

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of FXB International and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.