Women and Girls Main Victims of Domestic and Gender Violence – SADC Secretariat

Apr 22, 2020 | Namibia Economist
View Original

Addressing the sudden rise in domestic violence and gender violence is a key concern for authorities in all the Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) where governments have imposed either a partial or a full lockdown.

The SADC Executive Secretary, HE Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax said in a statement from the SADC Secretariat, some countries worldwide have reported increased incidences of domestic violence and gender violence of up to 30%. Invariably, women and girls are the main victims.

Dr Tax said this appalling situation stands against the very spirit and principles enshrined in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, Regional Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing Gender Violence (2018-2030) and the Regional Strategy on Women, Peace and Security (2018 – 2022), which collectively seek to sustainably empower and protect women and girls from sexual and gender violence.