Sostenus Wilherm
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi has declared that silence can no longer be the community’s response to gender-based violence, calling on traditional leaders, churches, families and residents to speak up, report abuse and protect women and children.
Kathindi made the call on Thursday in Omuthiya during the official launch of the campaign against gender-based violence (GBV), violence against women and violence against children, where he warned that the fight against abuse requires more than government intervention and police action.
The governor said the campaign must become a sustained regional movement that brings communities and institutions together to prevent violence, support survivors and promote safer families.
“It is with great honour and pleasure that I welcome you all to Omuthiya, the capital town of the Oshikoto Region, for this important occasion, the launch of our campaign against Gender-Based Violence, violence against women, and violence against children in our Region,” Kathindi said.
He stressed that the responsibility of combating GBV cannot be placed on a single ministry or institution, saying the presence of government officials, law enforcement, traditional authorities, churches and other stakeholders demonstrates the collective responsibility required to address the problem.
“Your presence sends a powerful message, the fight against violence cannot be left to one ministry, one institution or one individual. It requires all of us,” he said.
Kathindi said regional leadership has a responsibility to ensure that communities become safe places where women, children and all residents can live with dignity and without fear.
“As the leadership of the Oshikoto Region, we have a responsibility to ensure that our communities are safe places where every woman, every child and every person can live with dignity and without fear,” he said.
The governor placed particular emphasis on the role of traditional authorities, urging leaders to use their influence and community structures to challenge attitudes that normalise violence in families and communities.
“I would like to make a special appeal to our Traditional Authorities to come on board and use their influence, leadership and community structures to promote respect, peaceful families and responsible behaviour,” Kathindi said.
He said traditional leaders remain trusted voices in their communities and their involvement is therefore critical in changing behaviour and preventing violence before it occurs.
Kathindi also called on churches and faith-based organisations to use their reach to address GBV, saying religious institutions have regular access to families and communities and can play an important role in promoting peaceful relationships and protecting children.
“Our churches reach families and communities every week. Let us use our places of worship not only to condemn violence, but also to teach respect, compassion, responsible relationships, peaceful conflict resolution and the protection of children,” he said.
The governor further urged schools, civil society organisations, businesses, law enforcement agencies, health and social services and the media to become active participants in the campaign.
He said the success of the initiative would ultimately depend on the willingness of ordinary residents to reject silence when they witness abuse.
“To our communities, I say: we cannot remain silent when violence occurs. If we know that a woman or child is being abused, let us not look away. Let us speak up, report abuse and support survivors,” Kathindi said.
He said the campaign should not end with Thursday’s launch, warning that a once-off awareness event would not be enough to change attitudes or reduce violence.
“Let us ensure that today’s launch is not merely a once-off event. Let it become the beginning of a sustained regional movement for prevention, awareness, protection, justice and behavioural change,” he said.
Kathindi said Oshikoto should strive to become a region where women and girls can move freely without fear, children can grow and learn in safety, and families can resolve disagreements without resorting to violence.
He also highlighted the importance of creating an environment where survivors feel safe to report abuse and are treated with dignity when they seek assistance.
“We must also create an environment where survivors feel safe to come forward, knowing that they will be listened to, supported and treated with dignity,” Kathindi said.
The governor delivered a direct message against violence from the launch platform, saying the region must collectively reject GBV and the silence that often surrounds it.
“GBV has no place in Oshikoto. Violence against women has no place in Oshikoto. Violence against children has no place in Oshikoto. And importantly, silence in the face of violence cannot be our response,” he said.
Kathindi urged stakeholders to take the campaign beyond the launch venue and into homes, churches, schools, workplaces, traditional communities and neighbourhoods.
“If we work together, we can change attitudes, prevent violence and build safer families and stronger communities,” he said.
He called on residents to actively participate in activities linked to the campaign and to ensure that its message reaches communities across Oshikoto.
The governor said lasting progress would require collective commitment, particularly from those who have influence over families and communities.
“If we work together, we can change attitudes, prevent violence and build safer families and stronger communities,” Kathindi said.
He urged all stakeholders to make the fight against GBV a sustained commitment and not simply an event on the regional calendar, saying the goal should be an Oshikoto where women and children live in safety, dignity and freedom from fear.
