The Namibian Police Force recorded close to 5,000 gender-based violence (GBV) cases countrywide in 2024.

Erongo Regional Commander Commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona revealed the statistics at Walvis Bay, where a workshop for male police officers is underway.

Sixty male police officers are attending the five-day workshop, which aims to address topics such as the current gender-based violence situation, men as perpetrators and victims of GBV, and conflict and anger management.

The Regional Commander stressed that despite efforts made by the police and other stakeholders, GBV remains prevalent in the country.

"Our role goes beyond just enforcing the law. We must also be educators, advocates, and champions of change. We must strive to create an environment where victims feel safe to report abuse and where perpetrators are held accountable. But perhaps most importantly, we must lead by example, demonstrating through our actions and attitudes that GBV in any form is unacceptable."

The Executive Director of Women's Action for Development, Salathiel Shinedima, noted that Namibia will not overcome GBV unless men and boys are included in the dialogue.

"We must engage men and boys. Without engaging men and boys, let's forget about ending GBV. We have seen enough bloodshed. We have cried enough. As a society, we are fed up with the high rates of GBV. It seems like we have become enemies of ourselves because this GBV problem is not coming from outside our households or across our borders – it is within us."

Shinedima further emphasised the need to create safer spaces for men to speak out against GBV.

"I have observed on social media that whenever a case of GBV happens, everyone asks, 'How do we expect men to speak out if there are no platforms for them?' People complain that if a man goes to a police station to report abuse, he is laughed at. So we are creating these platforms for men to speak out."

Shinedima added that the increasing number of suicides among men has become a serious concern in Namibia.

He noted that, for far too long, gender-related issues have been considered women's issues, even though they affect men as well.

Statistics from the Namibian Police indicate that 124 people died by suicide between January and March this year – 108 of them were men.