Ministry of gender provides shelter and support to 254 Gender-Based Violence survivors between 2024/2025

By: Selma Taapopi

The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has provided shelter, protection, and psychosocial support to 254 survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Violence Against Children (VAC), and Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

This was realised across eight regional shelters during the 2024/2025 financial year with the shelters located in Khomas, Hardap, //Kharas, Omusati, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Zambezi, and Kunene regions, minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas confirmed in Parliament while providing the ministry’s budget motivation.

In addition, the ministry subsidised 20 private children’s homes and places of care, accommodating a total of 517 children.

The Namibia Children’s Home currently houses 107 orphans and vulnerable children, while 741 children living or working on the streets are receiving assistance at the After-School Centre.

The ministry has worked with willing parents to reintegrate some of the children into their families and 282 children have been placed in 31 boarding schools in the Khomas, Hardap, Omaheke, and Otjozondjupa regions.

Nationwide, 5,603 children from all 14 regions received psychosocial support services from the ministry’s social workers.