Rape cases are said to be the most common form of gender-based violence, with nearly 1000 cases being reported annually.

This was revealed by Erongo Governor Neville Andre in his speech read by Derous Benson, Walvis Bay Urban Constituency Councilor, during the "her voice speak up campaign against sexual and gender-based violence."

Rape, a form of sexual violence, has been linked to an increase in mental health issues, HIV/AIDS infections, unsafe abortions, and alcohol and drug abuse.

Andre says more than half of adolescent girls in Namibia reported that their first sexual experience was without consent.

He goes on to say that most teenage pregnancies are unwanted and frequently result in unsafe abortions and baby dumping.

More than 300 illegal abortions were reported over the past few years by the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

"Every woman and every girl have the right to a life free of violence. Yet this rupture of human rights occurs in a variety of ways in every community, particularly affecting those who are most marginalized and vulnerable. Namibia experiences alarmingly high rates of gender-based violence (GBV). According to the UN Women Global Database on Violence Against Women, 25% of women in Namibia between the ages of 15 and 49 reported having experienced intimate partner violence at least once."

Chief Executive Director of the Healing Wound Non-profit Association, Florence Tchisuku, says for too long, activists and members of the community have been silent due to a fear of speaking up.

"The trauma responses from these acts of violence bring communities to a standstill and remain stagnant. Growth and development are slow as our society is bleeding due to households and families being broken and torn apart due to violence such as rape and SGBV. For long, activists and members of this community have been silent due to fear of speaking up, but until when are we going to hide and turn a blind eye?"

Merijam Ngonga is a rape survivor and community activist who also addressed the event. "I was raped by my cousin and got pregnant. I did not get the justice I deserved. He is still around. I got raped by my uncle. He is still around. I see him each and every day. For that matter, he even did it in front of my newborn baby. That really hurt me."

A concerned member of the Walvis Bay community, Milka Lopez, had this to say: "We as the community, are tired of our children being victimized. We have children who have had their drinks spiked, and these children are raped, and they are victimized. Videos are sent on social media; these children are blackmailed, and they are not speaking out because they are afraid."