PEPFAR Assists With Fight Against Gender-Based Violence

Posted on August 11, 2010  |  Related Issues: Gender Strategy

 

Windhoek — The United States government, under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), will assist its Namibian counterpart, civil society and other development partners to fight widespread gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

The PEPFAR gender initiative will support the Namibian Government's zero tolerance for GBV, and focus primarily on reducing violence and coercion.

Key strategies of this two-year project will address male norms and behaviour and the increase in women's legal rights and protection.

Overall, said the American Embassy, the initiative will aim at strengthening local capacity, increase community awareness drive, and improve legal protection and other services for GBV cases. According to recent studies, nearly 50 percent of Namibian women and nearly 30 percent of men have experienced gender-based violence, which is considered to be a major obstacle to socio-economic growth and human development.

 

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