The Namibian Association of Differently Abled Women (NADAWO) launched its new identity and opened a Peer Support Office Facility at the Disability Resource Centre in Okuryangava.

The office is aimed at combating gender-based violence by offering trauma counselling and support services to survivors. Trained peer counsellors will assist women with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds free of charge.

The Patron of NADAWO, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, said women with disabilities face multiple layers of discrimination.

"I am always saying that women, or people with disabilities in general, they are not a homogenous group. They have different needs. Sometimes we are being lumped together as people with disabilities. Without people knowing that, women have different needs. They are completely facing double, if not triple, discrimination. For being a woman, you are already being discriminated against. For being a woman with a disability, you are being discriminated against. And also for being a Black woman, you are being discriminated against. And also for being a woman from the disadvantaged. Because sometimes, even within women with disabilities, there are women who are well-to-do, there are women who are doing well, but there are also women who are vulnerable. There are women who are more vulnerable than the others. So we have to look into this, even ourselves as women with disabilities. When we are among ourselves, we must know who is more vulnerable than me. And then we lift each other up. We try and bring each other up."

NADAWO National Coordinator Mirjam Sam said the organisation has laid its foundation and is expanding its reach.

"NADAWO is not only not existing only in Windhoek as an organisation; it also has regional members from different regions. But what we have done, and as we are today here, what we did at first, and we were so maybe silent, is that we are building the foundation of this organisation so that today we can sit here and celebrate the milestone that we have done. NADAWO has also raised some reports in line with GBV, where we have also taken part to do consultations with different community members and stakeholders."

NADAWO also unveiled its new logo during the event.

The Peer Support Project is funded by the European Union, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, and the United Nations Population Fund.