The protection of female journalists from harassment and violence came under the spotlight during the handover ceremony of the Windhoek Declaration Certificate of Inscription in Windhoek on Friday.

Namibia joined the world in observing World Press Freedom Day, with the official handover of the Windhoek Declaration inscription certificate.

The declaration was adopted in Windhoek 35 years ago and remains an important part of global efforts to promote a free, independent, and responsible press.

Namibia has recorded an improvement in its standing on the global press freedom index, reaffirming its position as one of Africa's leading voices for media freedom and democratic expression.

To mark Press Freedom Day, the NMT Media Foundation warned that reporters still face many dangers while trying to tell the truth.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has reaffirmed Namibia's commitment to press freedom, describing it as essential to democracy, human rights and national stability.

The Namibia Media Professionals Union (NAMPU) is calling on media houses to stop treating women journalists as assistants and give them leadership opportunities.

The call comes as the world celebrates International Women's Day, a day that recognises the achievements of women and promotes gender equality.

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's (nbc) Director General has described the recent attack on the corporation's news crew as a threat to media freedom, the safety of journalists, and the public's constitutional right to access information.

The Editors Forum of Namibia (EFN) has strongly condemned acts that intimidate, harass, or obstruct journalists from carrying out their duties lawfully.

The NMT Media Foundation has renewed its call for stronger protections for journalists worldwide, stressing that impunity for crimes against media practitioners remains a threat. 

The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Peya Mushelenga, emphasises media freedom as crucial for public information dissemination.

Dr. Mushelenga remarked this during a government media benchmark exercise between Namibia and Botswana, held in Gaborone.