Speaking up against GBV
An initiative aimed at tackling gender-based violence (GBV) in the Hardap, Erongo and Omusati regions has secured financial support from Germany, with funding of about N$1.59 million allocated for 2026.
The agreement was signed on 30 March by the German Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Thorsten Hutter, and the founder and director of the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO), Philippe Talavera. The project runs from 1 April to 31 December 2026.
The “Speak Up” project aims to encourage open conversations in schools and promote intergenerational dialogue within communities, focusing on mental health and positive masculinity as tools to prevent GBV.
The initiative targets the Hardap, Erongo and Omusati regions, which have recorded high levels of gender-based violence.
Speaking at the signing, Hutter stressed the need for sustained action. “We must not let up in our efforts to combat gender-based violence wherever and whenever we can. Respect for fundamental human rights starts in families, classrooms and communities.”
He also highlighted OYO’s creative approach, noting that the use of music, dance and theatre helps raise awareness among young people, while being supported by professional psychological and social services for those in need.
Right approach
Talavera said a more engaging and empathetic approach was needed. “GBV is everywhere in the news, on social media and in political discourse. We hear so much about it that, in the end, I wonder if we still pay attention.
“This project, using the arts, will not simply add to the discourse. Instead, it will encourage participants to feel. If you can put yourself in the shoes of a survivor, you can react, and you can change.”
He added that participants would play an active role in the programme, moving beyond passive observation to meaningful engagement, with the aim of promoting healthier and more constructive behaviour.
Despite legislation such as the Combating of Rape Act and the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, GBV remains one of Namibia’s most pressing human rights challenges.
Access to support services is still limited, particularly for young people in remote areas.
The “Speak Up” project aims to go beyond awareness by addressing the root causes of violence. It promotes positive masculinity, challenges harmful cultural practices and encourages individuals to become agents of change within their communities.
Awareness
The programme will include school-based awareness campaigns, intergenerational dialogues, individual counselling, and the distribution of a specially developed comic book designed to educate and empower teenagers.
Germany’s support forms part of its broader global commitment to human rights and the prevention of gender-based violence.
Through its Federal Foreign Office human rights programme, the German government supports around 130 projects each year across Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe.
The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation, registered as a trust in Namibia since December 2002, has long used creative arts, including film, dance, comic books and educational materials, to raise awareness among young people on key social issues such as HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.
