The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, in partnership with UNFPA and supported by the European Union, HISA Namibia, and the United Nations in Namibia, hosted a community activation event in Windhoek as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
This year's theme is "End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls".
The initiative follows activations already held in Omaruru, Rehoboth, Okahandja and Karibib, with more towns to follow.
This year's national focus highlights the rising threat of digital violence, including cyberstalking, online harassment, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, hate speech, and other forms of technology-facilitated GBV that disproportionately affect women and girls.
The engagement aimed to raise awareness and encourage dialogue.
Patricia Sola is the co-founder of HISA Namibia. She explained that, "We commemorate, we remind each other, we encourage each other, we strengthen each other to fight GBV, and we speak about gender equality in contextually appropriate terms."
UNFPA Representative Ericka Goldson said they have implemented programmes designed to equip young people with digital safety skills.
"At UNFPA, we believe in a world where every woman and girl can exercise their rights safely, freely, and with dignity. That includes her digital rights. Through our global initiative, 'Making All Spaces Safe', we are working to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence."
She added that nobody is safe until all women and girls are safe.
EU Ambassador Ana Beatriz Martins reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to supporting efforts that address GBV in all its forms.
"Together we are strengthening prevention, improving how we respond to survivors, and transforming communities. We are working with men and boys because ending violence requires all of us. We are engaging digital communities to reshape the harmful norms that allow violence to thrive."
She noted that online violence often mirrors offline realities.
The Deputy Director for Early Childhood Development, speaking on behalf of the Gender Equality Minister, Emma Kantema, called on men and boys to embrace positive masculinity and play an active role in ending GBV.
"This digital violence is not a virtual problem; it has very real consequences of psychological trauma, social isolation, and the silencing of women's and girls' voices in public life. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare sees this clearly. We are committed to exposing and combating this online exploitation."
The minister urged communities not to be silent bystanders but to report gender-based violence and support survivors.
Mobile health services and a youth counsellor were also available on-site.