United Nations in Namibia

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20 July 2021

UN SDG Book Club Interview Series with Ama Worla (Ewurama Bennin), Author of 'Kayim’s Quest for Good Fortune'

16 July 2021

Key and vulnerable populations interventions as a steppingstone to ending AIDS by 2030 – no one should be left behind: UNAIDS

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09 July 2021

Generating Generation Equality and the Africa We Want for Namibia

Latest

Story

20 July 2021

UN SDG Book Club Interview Series with Ama Worla (Ewurama Bennin), Author of 'Kayim’s Quest for Good Fortune'

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16 July 2021

Key and vulnerable populations interventions as a steppingstone to ending AIDS by 2030 – no one should be left behind: UNAIDS

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09 July 2021

Generating Generation Equality and the Africa We Want for Namibia

The Sustainable Development Goals in Namibia

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Namibia.

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17 June 2021

COVID-19 cases surge in Africa, near first wave peak

COVID-19 cases in Africa are surging by over 20% week-on-week as the continent's third wave gains pace and nears the first wave peak of more than 120 000 weekly cases recorded in July 2020, new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows. COVID-19 cases rose to over 116 500 in the week ending on 13 June, up from the previous week’s nearly 91 000 cases, following one month of progressively rising case numbers that pushed the continent over the 5 million case mark. In 22 African countries—nearly 40% of Africa’s 54 nations—cases rose by over 20% in the week ending on 13 June. During the same week, deaths rose by nearly 15% to over 2200 in 36 countries. New cases recorded weekly in Africa have now exceeded half of the second wave peak of more than 224 000 weekly cases in early January 2021. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Uganda have reported their highest number of new weekly cases since the pandemic began. “Africa is in the midst of a full blown third wave. The sobering trajectory of surging cases should rouse everyone into urgent action. We’ve seen in India and elsewhere just how quickly COVID-19 can rebound and overwhelm health systems. So public health measures must be scaled up fast to find, test, isolate and care for patients and to quickly trace their contacts,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. Along with other factors, a lack of adherence to transmission prevention measures has fuelled the new surge that coincides with colder seasonal weather in southern Africa and as more contagious variants spread. The Delta variant has been reported in 14 African countries and the Alpha and Beta variants have been found in over 25 African countries. Africa’s rollout is picking-up speed with over 5 million doses administered in the past five days, compared with around 3.5 million doses per week for the past three weeks. Almost 12 million people are now fully vaccinated, but this is still less than 1% of Africa’s population. Twenty-three African countries have used less than half of the doses they have received so far, including four of the countries experiencing a resurgence. About 1.25 million AstraZeneca doses in 18 countries must be used by the end of August to avoid expiration. Seven African countries have already used 100% of the vaccines they received through COVAX and seven more have administered over 80%. “The rise in cases and deaths is an urgent wake up call for those countries lagging behind to rapidly expand vaccination sites, to reach priority groups for vaccination and to respond to community concerns. A number of African countries have shown that they can move vaccines quickly, so while we welcome the recent international vaccine pledges, if we are to curb the third wave Africa needs doses here and now,” said Dr Moeti. Nearly 85% of all vaccine doses globally have been administered in high- and upper-middle-income countries – an average of 68 doses per 100 people in high-income countries compared with nearly 2 doses per 100 people in Africa. The number of doses administered globally so far would have been enough to cover all health workers and older people, if they had been distributed equitably. WHO support WHO is supporting countries to review and implement resurgence plans down to the district level and is pre-positioning supplies to be ready to deploy to countries that need them. WHO is also expanding access to easy-to-use antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests in communities that would otherwise not have ready access to the standard polymerase chain reaction testing for COVID-19. Through a WHO-led regional COVID-19 laboratory referral network, WHO is working with countries to ship samples for sequencing to better understand where and to what degree variants are circulating. WHO is at the centre of Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout, working to coordinate all efforts, giving policy and technical guidance and tailored support to African countries with a range of partners, including assisting countries speed up their rollouts. With partners, WHO is engaging communities in African countries through their leaders and associations, and social media channels, to promote adherence to the preventive measures, to counter rumours and misinformation and to overcome vaccine hesitancy. Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Minister of Health, Uganda, and Hon Dr Rémy Lamah, Minister of Health, Guinea. Also on hand to answer questions were Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Thierno Balde, Team Leader, Operational Partnerships, WHO Regional Office for Africa.

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19 July 2021

Key and vulnerable populations interventions as a steppingstone to ending AIDS by 2030 – no one should be left behind: UNAIDS

The City of Windhoek, is an economic and transport hub faced with various issues and challenges, including high HIV prevalence, poverty, food insecurity and inequalities, and therefore critical in the country’s HIV response. Despite the many efforts from the government and partners to ensure that HIV services reach all people, including members of key populations, realities related to inequalities, stigma, and discrimination often create barriers to individuals to access the available HIV services. Evidence suggests that many individuals who identify as key populations (men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, and people who inject drugs) are vulnerable to HIV transmission and they predominantly reside in urban areas, such as Windhoek. Through the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, UNAIDS Namibia in collaboration with the City of Windhoek, is supporting three civil society organizations, King’s Daughters Organization, Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) and OutRight Namibia to improve HIV prevention, testing and retention services for key populations within Windhoek. Through this project, these vulnerable populations are being reached to increase better HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. According to the Integrated Biological Behavioral Surveillance Survey (IBBS) 2019 report, HIV prevalence is estimated at 21.3% among Female Sex Workers (FSW) and 20,9% among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), with anecdotal evidence highlighting that many key populations fear and experience stigma and discrimination from their communities and health facilities, thus resulting in their avoidance to seek health services. During programme implementation from September 2020 to April 2021, more than 930 individuals within the key population groups and more than 209 sex workers in Windhoek were reached with interpersonal communication sessions and HIV testing services, complimented by same day initiation for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for those who are eligible. Through NNAD, 60 people with hearing impaired disabilities were trained on human rights by strengthening the intersectionality of Human Rights, Health and service provision with a direct focus of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and key populations issues and challenges. Some of the lessons from this work include effective results, whereby some sex workers living with HIV are reaching their Viral Load Suppression through the engagement of Adherence Support Groups to enhance adherence to treatment. Evidence suggests that 76.5% of female sex workers who are on treatment are viral load suppressed, compared to 91% in the general population in Windhoek. Achieving viral suppression protects the body’s immune system, helps people living with HIV stay healthy and prevents transmission of HIV to other people. Peer-to-peer driven interventions ere highly encouraged by implementing partners as key populations tend to trust each other leading to enhanced motivation to access health and HIV services. Providing health education and access to clinical services at the same settings also ensures that those who need services are able to access them, and maintained on the programmes and on treatment; with diversity friendly and competent
service providers continuing to encourage key populations to seek and access health services. In addition, the lived experiences of people with hearing impaired disabilities of being stigmatized and discriminated in public, with limited access to information and education materials have been highlighted, as many are not translated into sign language. Lack of sign language interpreters at health facilities is also as a critical barrier to accessing health services by this community, resulting in misdiagnosis due to communication barriers. In conclusion, interventions for these vulnerable and usually left behind populations are being supported to ensure that no one is left behind and to contribute to the country’s efforts to attain its targets for the national HIV response. UNAIDS Namibia will continue to work with the City of Windhoek, line ministries and partner organizations to mitigate and address the identified gaps and mitigate the impact of HIV in Namibia. These initiatives will contribute to Namibia’s efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, while ensuring that all programmes and interventions are people-centered and gender transformative.

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05 July 2021

Women in rural Namibia profit from biodiversity-friendly trade

The Eudafano Women’s Cooperative in Namibia extracts ingredients from seeds of indigenous plants such as marula, a medium-sized deciduous tree, for the domestic and international cosmetics industry. Oil extracted from marula seeds is rich in elements that are essential for the preservation of human skin, making it an ideal ingredient for cosmetics. The cooperative commercializes the marula and other plants in line with a set of guidelines on environmental, social and economic sustainability, known as BioTrade principles and criteria. The term “BioTrade” refers to the supply and commercialization of goods and services derived legally and sustainably from a country’s biodiversity. “We use the plants to support our livelihoods, while conserving them so that they sustain us for a long time,” said Martha Negumbo, the cooperative’s manager. Ms. Negumbo said applying BioTrade principles enables the cooperative to “promote sustainability, equal sharing of benefits and respect for the rights of all actors, especially the local community.” A matter of principle BioTrade principles encourage sustainable trade and investment in developing countries’ unique natural resources, while ensuring their long-term conservation and enhancement. More than 80 countries have implemented the principles to date, with several examples of successful adoption by governments, companies and communities. The principles are aligned with key multilateral environmental agreements, notably the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). They are also in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris climate agreement and the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources. “These principles empower local communities and cooperatives to protect biodiversity and benefit from it at the same time,” said Lorena Jaramillo, project manager of UNCTAD’s BioTrade initiative. Tapping traditional knowledge The Eudafano Women’s Cooperative established 22 years ago harnesses the community’s traditional environmental knowledge to promote the conservation of indigenous plants and prevent overexploitation. “We value the marula tree. You won’t find people cutting it down, now that they know its benefits,” Ms. Negumbo said. About 2,500 women working in 27 associations harvest marula fruits from wild trees and deliver their kernels and seeds to the cooperative’s factory, where oils are extracted through a combination of hand and machine processing. Each year, the factory produces up to 12 tons of marula oil, which is sold to companies such as The Body Shop International. It was the cooperative’s first global customer, attracted not only by the properties of marula oil but also by the rural women’s cooperative’s conservation efforts. The cooperative carries out rainfed agriculture and advocates for the planting of more marula trees to promote the regeneration of local biodiversity. Changing local fortunes Its revenues have increased over the years. In 2020, sales from marula kernels fetched the cooperative’s members about $158,000, a 14% jump from 2019. The cooperative empowers its members and their communities economically by ensuring they are paid fair prices. The income to the members is seasonal, as the marula fruits are harvested seasonally, typically between May and November. The cooperative, a leading producer of marula oil in the southern African region, is run by a board made up exclusively of women from the community. It has set its sights on recruiting more members and training them on organic farming methods to boost both its production of marula oil and its conservation efforts. Partnerships for success The cooperative worked with the Centre for Research Information Action in Africa — Southern Africa Development and Consulting, a Namibian-based organization, to turn the marula fruit into an economically viable product. The organization provided research and technological support that enabled the cooperative to serve both local and international markets. The cooperative received further research and development support from PhytoTrade Africa, the southern African natural products trade association. The partnerships opened new markets for the cooperative and helped it expand income opportunities for local communities. This article is also available at UNCTAD website here.

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20 July 2021

UN SDG Book Club Interview Series with Ama Worla (Ewurama Bennin), Author of 'Kayim’s Quest for Good Fortune'

Ama Worla is an educational administrator, author and a trainer who brings color to the learning process through stories, dialogue, and games. Motivated by her children’s love for her storytelling, Ama was inspired to help children learn important lessons about life by reading about capabilities of people just like them. Ama Worla's book 'Kayim's Quest for Good Fortune' is included in the Inaugural English Reading List: SDG 1 No Poverty How long have you been writing children’s books? For years I have created case studies that are used for teaching and training. But the story of Kayim was one I created to keep my son engaged as I drove him to school. It was during the COVID-19 lockdown that I wrote it down, after listening to a sermon on being fruitful. So I am just cutting my teeth as a children’s author with the stories of Kayim. What inspired you to take up the SDG challenge? I was fascinated by the opportunity to have the book contribute to helping African children see work as the route to success as opposed to handouts, scams and gambling. However, Mr. Nana Djan of Mountype Publishing brought the opportunity to my attention, so he deserves credit as well. The main focus of the SDG Book Club is to inform and educate the children; can you describe briefly how were you able to create a fusion of entertainment, education and information? The stories I tell are supposed to keep my children engaged and teach them the lessons, I want them to learn in a fun way. I am conscious that if the story is not witty or engaging enough, I will not be able to teach the lesson. I try to think of what my children would enjoy hearing and then I begin to write. How do you carry out research for your book? The research starts with talking to my children and finding interesting content for them. Their perspective is very useful for developing my stories. So far, what has being a writer been like? I enjoy writing because it is usually a fun escape from what is going on around me. The Kayim journey in particular has been a thrilling experience of seeing the stories illustrated, and read by others. I feel most fulfilled when I hear the lessons being referred to by children. What was your ambition when you were younger? I wanted to own a large dairy farm that would be a place for people with cognitive and learning disabilities to find shelter, community and decent work. What do you like to do when you are not writing? I have other roles that keep me busy. I work full-time with a youth leadership development organization as a program manager. I am also a student, wife and mother. What were the challenges you faced when writing the book? The lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was a blessing in disguise because it took away the excuse of not having the time to write. Now that I have been bitten by the writer’s bug, I struggle to find the time to dream and write without feeling guilty about the other things waiting to be done. I have at least seven manuscripts waiting to be turned into books. Tell us something about the main character? Kayim is an ambitious young boy who wants to be rich! In this first book, Kayim builds his relationship with his grandfather and uncle who teach him (over the next few books) how to make money, invest properly, run a business, contribute to his community and be responsible. He has a loving mother and good friends that you can meet if you keep following him in the other books. What was the inspiration for the story? My son! He loves stories so I started making up stories for him. What advice would you give to young readers across the continent? Be like Kayim! Learn lessons quickly and grow! This story was written by Zion Rufus for Borders Literature for All Nations, one of the founding members of the SDG Book Club African Chapter.

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11 July 2021

Generating Generation Equality and the Africa We Want for Namibia

“Gender equity has to be promoted beyond the public sector to cover all segments of society, beyond representation in leadership positions, to permeate all aspects of human endeavour, if we are to realize its benefits,” said Namibia’s Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. Though strides have been made in Namibia and globally, much work still needs to be done to achieve full gender equality. Tangible ways to achieve this and to empower women and young people in Namibia were the focus of discussions at a high-level event on Generation Equality, ahead of the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, France last week. Gender equality and women and youth empowerment are critical to achieving the 2030 Development Agenda. Protecting and educating To achieve ‘Generation Equality’, more work needs to be done, said Sen Pang, Resident Coordinator for UN in Namibia. “Over the past 25 years, tremendous progress has been made on gender equality. However, that progress is uneven. In many parts of the world, women and girls are still subjected to gender inequalities and harmful practices, with limited access to health, education and political participation. Gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls is still a widespread and persistent global issue.” This includes Namibia. From April 2020 to March 2021, more than 5,000 cases of GBV against women were reported, of which 21 per cent were rape and sexual assault of young women, the Namibian Police Force reported. Gender inequality also impacts women and girls' right to dignity, as Emma Theofelus, Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, pointed out. “General taboos and negative perceptions surrounding menstruation continue to be widespread and this exacerbates gender inequality,” she said. UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, and partners are working to prevent GBV and improve the response to sexual and gender-based violence, as well as improve menstrual health for women, girls and people who menstruate. UNFPA supported implementation of the National Gender Strategy and the First Lady's #BreakFree movement, as well as prioritized gender-responsive interventions during COVID-19. The government recently repealed tax on menstrual hygiene products, while UNFPA has distributed more than 17,000 dignity kits to vulnerable women and girls across the country. State of World Population report UNFPA’s flagship report, State of World Population 2021: My Body is My Own – Claiming the Right to Autonomy and Self Determination, was launched at the event by Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, and UNFPA Namibia’s Country Representative, Sheila Roseau. “Bodily autonomy means having the power and agency to make choices over one's body and future without violence, without coercion or discrimination. Fundamentally, it is about the power to decide. It's about the power of choice,” said Dr. Onabanjo. The event, which attracted close to 100 participants, was co-hosted by the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the Embassies of France and Mexico, UNFPA, UN Women, and civil society organizations. This article is also available at UNFPA website here.

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07 July 2021

UN SDG Book Club Interview Series converses with Dominic Maina Oigo

Dominic Maina Oigo is an author, editor, translator, and a final year student at Kenyatta University, Kenya. He is also the current Secretary-General to the University Organization for Kiswahili Students in East Africa, Kenya Chapter, and an active member of the International Human Rights Art Festival African Chapter. His book, 'Hatima Ya Musa' has been selected for the inaugural Kiswahili reading list addressing the theme: No Poverty - SDG 1. How long have you been writing children’s books? I have been writing for five years now, although my passion for writing started when I was a child in Class 6, 10 years ago. What inspired you to take up the SDG challenge? I took the SDG challenge to be a part of a bigger team. I wanted to promote the SDGs using my talent not only in my local context but also in the global context. I understand that the use of literature as a tool to promote, can be effective in teaching young children about the SDGs. I wanted to help others who may not be in a position to access online materials about the SDGs. I also wanted to popularize Kiswahili as a language which can be used to reach many and at the same time strengthen my influence over the audience. The main focus of the SDG Book Club is to inform and educate children; can you describe briefly how you were able to create a fusion of entertainment, education, and information? Through my writing, I look at what is happening in society. It actually takes an author very little time to think of a conflict and then look into ways of solving it. In creative writing, I believe that it is all about conflict identification and conflict resolution. We encounter many problems in my society. If the young generation can be guided early on how to respond to them, then they can really have a positive impact. To fuse entertainment with education, I used simple characterization, simple flow, simple language but I increased the conflict as the story progressed. The spiral conflict enabled the story to have suspense and momentum until I was able to solve the problem of poverty elimination. I wanted the story to be one in which children can really see themselves. How do you carry out research for your book? I read other children’s books both in Kiswahili and English. I also do field research where I visit homes and try to see how people live. Mostly, I get my themes from my society and my immediate village. So far, what has being a writer been like? Writing this important book is a milestone. I remember reading books by other authors' books and imagining how people would react to my own book. I’ve received encouragement and positive about it. Being published is one of my answered prayers. As an undergraduate student at the university, I feel blessed. I thank God. What was your ambition when you were younger? I have always wanted to be a university lecturer and a Kiswahili Professor. I still have to finish my undergraduate studies, but I trust I shall make it. What do you like to do when you are not writing? I like to teach, especially young and emerging authors. What were the challenges you faced when writing the book? Balancing studies and writing is a big challenge. Another challenge is that writing is a lonely occupation and sometimes I need to hide to write. Describe how you were able to build the main character of the story? Children need to read books with characters they can feel identify with. I make sure my characters illustrate the challenges children regularly face, especially in decision making. I give them trial and error opportunities. Tell us something about the main character The main character, Musa, is a grade six boy whose background is unstable. He has to look for other ways to make money. On realizing that the other ways are worse, he drops out of school. He has to look for other solutions. Musa is a direct character and very creative in how he transforms situations. Musa is also a role model because of the way he deals with issues using basic life skills. He is a problem solver. What was the inspiration for the story? I wrote the book when gambling was taking root in Africa and children were being lured into it. The poor were the biggest losers. I wanted to educate the society about other ways to improve life chances. If children continue to see these gambling adverts in the media, they will end up being part of the game and this will kill their future. Just imagine what would happen if all school-children decided to gamble using their school fees as Musa did. What advice would you give to young readers across the continent? Reading is enjoyable. Let everyone build the reading habit. I encourage us all to read. Not a single day should pass by without reading. A page a day keeps the mind healthy. This story was written by Zion Rufus for Borders Literature for All Nations, one of the founding members of the SDG Book Club African Chapter.

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06 July 2021

CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF BOOKS ON SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION

Dear African Publishers/ Authors, The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Book Club African Chapter is inviting African publishers/ Authors to submit children’s fiction and non-fiction books that relate to the SDG 4: Quality Education in English, French, Arabic and Kiswahili that help educate children about the SDGs. If you have books for children within the ages of 6 and 12 years + that relate to Quality Education– SDG 4, we invite you to submit them. Below are the links to the Google forms in the four main languages. A children’s book in any other African language that relates to SDG 4 can be submitted. English https://forms.gle/oQET4K4XKW4rDk9z7 French https://forms.gle/6qN4Xc6dR2S1HjpJ6 Kiswahili https://forms.gle/5DuQDiX8nG1QpE3VA Arabic https://forms.gle/XaBNGjZ81f9mKMtu6 To make the application complete, the applicant should mail the book in pdf to the given e-mail in the form (unsdgbookclubafricanchapter@gmail.com). The deadline for the submission of the book(s) is 14th July, 2021. Book submissions for SDG 3 were selected and published. Link below contains selected books from SDG 1 to 3: https://namibia.un.org/en/125415-sdg-book-club-african-chapter The aim of the African SDG Book Club is to use books as a tool to encourage African children ages 6- 12 to interact with the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a curated reading list of books (fiction and non-fiction but not textbook) published in Africa related to each of the 17 SDGs. The UN SDG Book Club African Chapter promotes books and reading culture among children in Africa, provides great promotion for authors, publishers, booksellers, libraries, etc., fosters great book industry collaboration and enhance great opportunities for intra-African trade promotion of books. Publishers/authors whose books are selected will be given a sticker that may be affixed on the front cover for e-book and reprinted copies. For further enquiries or clarification, kindly contact our main email, unsdgbookclubafricanchapter@gmail.com; APNET Secretariat, info.africanpublishers@gmail.com; Dr Wale Okediran, PAWA, waleokediran@yahoo.co.uk , María José Cano UNIC, maria.cano-paz@unic.org or Aline Spantig UNIC aline.spantig@unic.org

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30 June 2021

A GLOBAL MODEL TO TACKLE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

As the world grapples unevenly with the effects of COVID-19, a parallel and equally horrific pandemic has threatened half the world’s population. In the early months of the pandemic, the United Nations projected that quarantines and lockdowns could lead to a shocking 15 million additional cases of gender-based violence every three months. Sadly, those predictions appear to be coming true. This week, world leaders and others will gather at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris and online in a massive push for gender equality. At that meeting, I will call on states, companies and individuals to join in a global initiative, with proven results, to end the fear and insecurity that threaten the health, rights, dignity and
lives of so many women and girls. From domestic violence to sexual exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, female genital mutilation and online harassment, violent misogyny has thrived in the shadow of the pandemic. Full data will take time to collect and assess, but the trends are clear. In twelve countries tracked by the United Nations, the number of cases of violence against women and girls reported to various institutions increased 83 per cent from 2019 to 2020, and cases reported to the police grew by 64 per cent. In the first months of the pandemic, calls to helplines increased by an average of 60 per cent across the European Union. Calls to Peru’s sexual violence hotline almost doubled in 2020 compared to 2019. In Thailand, the number of clients visiting domestic violence crisis units in hospitals in April 2020 was more than
double the number from the same time period of the previous year. Such statistics and stories span the world, adding to an existing epidemic of violence against women and girls. Before the pandemic, the World Health Organization estimated that one in three women would experience male violence in their lifetime. Just over a year ago, I raised the alarm. Echoing my call for a global ceasefire, I appealed for peace in the home -- an end to all violence everywhere, from war zones to people’s homes -- to allow us to face the pandemic, humankind’s common enemy, with solidarity and unity. More than 140 countries expressed support. Some 800 measures have been adopted in 149 countries, the majority focused on shelter, legal assistance and other services and support. But, in many cases, these actions have been limited and short lived. Worse, other countries are retreating, rolling back legal protections and standing by as violence is used to target women, including human rights defenders protesting these reversals. The pervasiveness of violence against women and girls has led to acquiescence that it is somehow inevitable or impossible to end. This is as outrageous and self- defeating as it is plain wrong. Despite the challenges of the past year, the United Nations, with significant funding from and partnership with the European Union, has demonstrated that change is possible. Over the course of 2020, the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls has delivered notable results in 25 countries. Eighty-four laws and policies to protect women and girls were adopted or strengthened. Prosecution of perpetrators increased 22 per cent. Some 650,000 women and girls received
services despite lockdowns and mobility restrictions. Close to 900,000 men and boys -- including traditional leaders, heads of religious institutions, male taxi drivers and young gamers -- were engaged to be allies in finding solutions. And across these countries, national budget allocations for preventing and responding to
violence against women and girls increased by 32 per cent, a clear indication of future sustainability. By coming together, in Paris, around a proven model, we can begin to ensure that the next generation of girls will not be expected to live with fear simply because we didn’t act. In time, there will be many lessons learned about what the world got right and wrong in handling this pandemic. One of the first must be to ensure that
this disgraceful hidden pandemic facing half our population ends now.

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Press Release

17 June 2021

Press Release: 2021 Day of the African Child (16th June)

On June 16th 2021, SDG Book Club Africa celebrated the Day of the African Child with three exemplary Ambassador Schools: Beehive School, Ikeja, Lagos, Chrisland Schools (Lagos, Abuja) and Gateway School, Enugu. All three schools are located in Nigeria, West Africa.
In response to the survey administered by teachers about the Day of the African Child (June 16th 2021) and Africa Day (May 25th 2021), children of the three schools expressed joy and pride in their identity as Nigerians and Africans. They also expressed pride in attending great Nigerian schools.
Click here to join the children of Beehive School, Chrisland Schools and Gateway School as they talk about why we must continue to celebrate the African Child.
https://namibia.un.org/en/131739-day-african-child-un-sdg-book-club-africa-
ambassador-school-chrisland-school https://namibia.un.org/en/131737-june-16th-2021-day-african-child https://namibia.un.org/en/131789-day-african-child-un-sdg-book-club-africa-ambassador-school-gateway-school
SDG Book Club Africa is one of the latest chapters of the UN SDG Book Club. It spans the entire continent of Africa and is, in size, second only to the global Club. SDG Book Club Africa launched the Ambassador Schools Program (17 th May 2021) to motivate children to read more and to provide them with quality books of a wide variety of genres, whose themes address principles of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our Ambassador Schools encourage healthy and creative engagement with the SDGs, both
indoors and outdoors. At our Ambassador Schools, we seek to ensure that no-one, particularly children, the builders of our future, is left out of the global effort to make the world a better place. SDG Book Club Africa Organizers
African Publishers Network (APNET).
Pan-African Writer Association (PAWA).
Pan-African Booksellers Association (PABA).
Association for the Development of Education (ADEA).
African Library Information Institutions & Association (AFLIA).
BORDERS Literature for all Nations (BORDERS).
United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Windhoek, Namibia.

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Press Release

12 May 2021

‘Playing’ into Sustainable Development

Our planet is at a critical point. From global health crises to economic disparities to climate change, there has never been a more crucial time for our young leaders to step up and help come up with solutions to these existential challenges. The United Nations (UN) is committed to tackling these issues by achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and UN Namibia has come up with a unique and clever way to get Namibian youth to create changes within our communities and throughout the world. UN Namibia launched their latest youth engagement tool, Swift 30: SDG Edition. This locally made board game brings the SDGs into the hands of the youth, to educate them on Namibia and how they can positively impact our future. During the launch, UN Resident Coordinator Sen Pang, recalled playing games growing up and emphasised the knowledge building exercise as having the potential to teach young and old alike. “Even I learnt something new today”, he noted. The UNRC along with the Deputy Minister of Education and other stakeholders played the game to get a feel for the content and interaction it encourages. Swift 30: SDG Edition was produced in collaboration with Ms. Ndeshi Fikameni and her company, Afroprintline. This iteration follows the success of her first game, Swift 30, a game that drew its inspiration from the popular board game, 30 Seconds, but exclusively focused on Namibian topics – a game for Namibians by Namibians. Similarly, Swift 30: SDG Edition, which includes a colourful hand-sewn game board, appeals to Namibian youth with the aim to empower them to take their future into their own hands. Speaking at the officially launch Swift 30: SDG Edition, Deputy Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Hon. Faustina Caley recognizes that initiatives such as this are of paramount importance to the development of Namibian youth. She commended this effort saying, “the Ministry welcomes the strategic partnership support in establishing non-school based opportunities for the Namibian child to relate to the SDGs and for catering to the diverse interest and talents of learners across regions.” Twenty youth from various schools and organizations around Windhoek attended the event. Together they learnt how to play the game, which came with a lot of friendly competition amongst each other. Orban Primary School learner Jasmine Schmidt, 12, spoke with excitement for Swift 30: SDG Edition explaining that she “learned a lot and it was super fun! I hope others enjoy it as much as I did.” Claudios Rervelso, 19, from the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) described his experience as, “awesome and educational, everyone engaged in the game. I personally want my peers to know about Swift 30: SDG Edition.” Following its official launch, the team behind Swift 30: SDG Edition will continue to build awareness by engaging with schools, youth groups and other organizations through game activations and programming. The SDGs are only attainable through a collaborative effort from all, and this game is a major way for the UN to reach a whole new audience. For more information, please contact Ms. Anthea Basson at bassona@un.org at telephone: +264 61 204 6408 / +264 (0) 81 551 695 or Ms. Welda Mouton at mouton@un.org or telephone: +264 61 204 6346 or / +264 (0)815511378

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Press Release

29 April 2021

Namibia’s human rights record to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

Namibia’s human rights record will be examined by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group for the third time on Monday, 3 May 2021 in a meeting that will be webcast live. The documents on which the reviews are based are: 1) national report - information provided by the State under review; 2) information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups, known as the Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; 3) information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations and civil society groups. The three reports serving as the basis for the review of Namibia on 3 May can be found here. Location: Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations, Geneva [NB: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting will be held using a combination of in-person and remote participation, and media representatives are encouraged to follow the proceedings on webcast]. Time and date: 09.00 – 12.30, Monday, 3 May (Geneva time, GMT +1 hour) The UPR is a unique process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN member States have been reviewed twice within the first and second UPR cycles. During the third UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews which they committed to follow-up on, as well as to highlight recent human rights developments in the country. The delegation of Namibia will be led by Yvonne Dausab, Minister of Justice. The three country representatives serving as rapporteurs (“troika”) for the review of Namibia are: Fiji, Sudan and Venezuela. The webcast of the session will be at http://webtv.un.org The list of speakers and all available statements to be delivered during the review of Namibia will be posted on the UPR Extranet The UPR Working Group is scheduled to adopt the recommendations made to Namibia at 15.00 on 7 May. The State under review may wish to express its positions on recommendations posed to it during their review. * The UPR 38th session was originally scheduled to be held in January 2021, although was postponed due to COVID-19 measures. For more information and media requests, please contact Rolando Gómez, HRC Media Officer, at +41 (0) 22 917 9711, rgomez@ohchr.org , or Matthew Brown, HRC Public Information Officer, at mbrown@ohchr.org To learn more about the Universal Periodic Review, visit: www.ohchr.org/hrc/upr UN Human Rights Council, follow us on social media: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram

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Press Release

26 February 2021

Human Development Report 2020 and Namibia National Human Development Report 2019 Launch

This Human Development Report (HDR) 2020, lays out a stark choice for world leaders - take bold steps to reduce the immense pressure that is being exerted on the environment and the natural world, or humanity’s progress will stall. The publication of the 2020 HDR 2020 GHDR marks 30 years of Human Development Reports by UNDP. It refreshes the construct of human development (HD) for a new geologic era and focuses on how HD can be expanded in balance with the planet. The 2020 report includes a new experimental index on human progress that takes into account countries’ carbon emissions and material footprint. “Humans wield more power over the planet than ever before. In the wake of COVID-19, record-breaking temperatures, and spiralling inequality, it is time to use that power to redefine what we mean by progress, where our carbon and consumption footprints are no longer hidden,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. Impressive progress, elusive SDGs The report argues that as people and planet enter an entirely new geological epoch, the Anthropocene or the Age of Humans, it is time for all countries to redesign their paths to progress by fully accounting for the dangerous pressures humans put on the planet, and dismantle the gross imbalances of power and opportunity that prevent change. The Human Development Report 2020 shows that, inequalities within and between countries, with deep roots in colonialism and racism, mean that people who have more capture the benefits of nature and export the costs. This chokes opportunities for people who have less and minimizes their ability to do anything about it. According to the report’s accompanying Human Development Index (HDI), Africa has experienced one of the most significant improvements in human development. Namibia’s HDI value for 2019 is 0.646, which puts the country in the medium human development category, positioning it at 130 out of 189 countries and territories. From Sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia is compared with Botswana and South Africa, which have HDIs ranked 100 and 114 in 2019, respectively. Between 1990 and 2019, Namibia’s HDI value increased from 0.581 to 0.646, an increase of 11.2 percent. Specifically, Namibia’s life expectancy at birth increased by 2.1 years, this means years of schooling increased by 1.4 years and expected years of schooling increased by 1.5 years. Namibia’s GNI per capita increased by about 57.0 percent between 1990 and 2019. Although Namibia’s Inequality-adjusted HDI for 2019 is 0.646, when the value is discounted for inequality, the HDI falls to 0.418, a loss of 35.3% due to inequality in the distribution of the HDI dimension indices. And the Human inequality coefficient for Namibia is equal to 33.6 %. In comparison, South Africa shows a loss due to inequality of 34.0 %. The average loss due to inequality for medium HDI countries is 26.3 % and for Sub-Saharan Africa it is 30.5%. The Namibia National Human Development Report (NNHDR) 2019 titled, “Addressing Inequality and Disparities: Towards a New Dignified Life for All Namibians”, introduces a multidimensional lens to analysing the drivers of inequality in Namibia. The report confirms that Inequalities exist in Namibia in terms of income, wealth distribution and the available opportunities, between women and men, urban and rural areas, and different groups within the population. When individuals do not have the same opportunities as others, they are hindered from achieving individual goals and reaching their full potential. The historical biases that have skewed the provision of opportunities have negatively affected various segments of society. It notes that there is an unequal distribution of income within the Namibian population, despite the country’s classification as an Upper – Middle-Income economy. The NNHDR found that, 65.5% of labour force in Namibia are in employment, while only 14% of the Namibian population earn a monthly wage income in excess of N$1353 – the minimum wage of private households as per Labour Commissioner And Domestic Workers Union Agreement 2017. Further disparities in access to land or housing pose a major challenge; while women remain at a disadvantage in income, health, and protection. Moreover, education disparities in Namibia are defined by the urban/rural divide, regional variations, and income/wealth differences. Women and men in urban areas (96% and 95%, respectively) are more likely to be literate than those in rural areas (90% and 85%, respectively).17.9% of households in Namibia have to travel a distance longer than 10 kilometres to the nearest health facility. Of those living in rural areas, 36.5% lived more than 10 kilometres from the nearest health facility. Towards a new dignified life for all: An agenda to reduce inequalities in Namibia This report draws conclusions from the trends and status of inequality in its multiple dimensions in Namibia, and proposes the following recommendations: •Structural economic transformation and an efficient and effective financing mechanism; •Integrated gender-responsive policies and programmes, as well as an effective and efficient social protection system for all; •Investment in better research and development, measurement, and data collection and analysis, to deepen the understanding of inequality in Namibia. In Namibia, the launch of both reports will take place on Wednesday, 24 February 2021 at the United Nations House in Windhoek. To learn more about the Human Development report 2020 and UNDP’s analysis on the experimental Planetary Pressure-Adjusted HDI, visit http://hdr.undp.org/en/2020-report To learn more about the Namibia National Human Development report 2019 findings on Inequality and Disparities, visit https://bit.ly/3utFVFG

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Press Release

21 November 2020

Despite progress, COVID-19 threatens to cause irreversible harm to children’s education, nutrition and well-being - says UNICEF

Gobabis, Namibia, 20 November 2020 – Data from 87 countries reveals that 1 in 9 known COVID-19 infections are among children and young people under the age of 20, according to a UNICEF analysis report called “Averting a Lost COVID Generation”, released yesterday ahead of today’s World Children’s Day.
The report comprehensively dispels the myth that children are spared the worst of COVID-19. Children – especially the poorest and most marginalized – are amongst the hardest hit from disrupted services and increases in poverty.
Speaking at an event on behalf of the President of Namibia H.E. Hage Geingob, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Hon. Doreen Sioka said “ We have achieved many milestones which we are proud of and it is this progress that encourages us to recognise and address the emerging challenges brought forth by COVID-19 to ensure that no child is left behind.”
According to recent government reports, as of 10th November 2020, 15% of the COVID-19 confirmed cases in Namibia are in the 0-19 age groups – this means 1 in 7 of the total confirmed cases are children.
The reports further states that despite the overall decrease in the total confirmed cases since the lifting of the Covid-19 State of emergency, the casing continue to flare up in close settings such as schools and hostels. “This is just the ‘tip of the pandemic iceberg’. Not only are children suffering the direct consequences of this disease, the longer this crisis continues, the worse it gets for children. Missed education, worsening malnutrition, and rapidly rising poverty all threaten a lost generation” said Rachel Odede, UNICEF Representative to Namibia.
Averting a Lost COVID Generation is the first UNICEF report to comprehensively outline the dire and growing consequences for children as the pandemic drags on. It shows that while symptoms among infected children remain mild, infections are rising and the longer-term impact on the education, nutrition and well-being of an entire generation of children and young people can be life-altering.
Using new data from UNICEF surveys across 140 countries, the report notes that:
• Around one-third of the countries analyzed witnessed a drop of at least 10 per cent in coverage for health services such as routine vaccinations, outpatient care for childhood infectious diseases, and maternal health services. Fear of infection is a prominent reason.
• There is a 40 per cent decline in the coverage of nutrition services for women and children across 135 countries. As of October 2020, 265 million children were still missing out on school meals globally. More than 250 million children under 5 could miss the life-protecting benefits of vitamin A supplementation programmes.
• 65 countries reported a decrease in home visits by social workers in September 2020, compared to the same time last year.
More alarming data from the report include:
• As of November 2020, 572 million students are affected across 30 country-wide school closures – 33 per cent of the enrolled students worldwide.
• An estimated 2 million additional child deaths and 200,000 additional stillbirths could occur over a 12-month period with severe interruptions to services and rising malnutrition.
• An additional 6 to 7 million children under the age of 5 will suffer from wasting or acute malnutrition in 2020, a 14 per cent rise that will translate into more than 10,000 additional child deaths per month – mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
• Globally, the number of children living in multidimensional poverty – without access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water – is estimated to have soared by 15 per cent, or an additional 150 million children by mid-2020.
To respond to this crisis, UNICEF is committed to continue working with the Government of Namibia and development partners and the Private Sector – to seek solution to:
1. Ensure all children continue to learn, including by closing the digital divide.
2. Guarantee access to nutrition and health services and make vaccines affordable and available to every child. 3. Support and protect the mental health of children and young people and bring an end to abuse, gender-based violence and neglect in childhood.
4. Increase access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and address environmental degradation and climate change.
5. Mitigate the rise in child poverty and ensure an inclusive recovery for all.
Namibia celebrated the day in Gobabis, Omaheke Region under the theme, “Kids Take Over” as part of the global “Reimagine” campaign which is focused on engaging children and young people. About 30 girls and boys out of school and children on the street aged 12-18, directed the programme and showcased their vision of the world they want to build amidst COVID-19 and beyond through song, dance and creative arts and crafts. During the week the children also participated in discussions and interviewed key political and government decision makers in Omaheke. “As we are gathered here today, we are reminded of the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable members of our society – children. We in Omaheke re-commit ourselves to work together with children – to reimagine their world where every child is safe, healthy, prosperous, has access to all services that will allow him/her to grow and develop to his/her full potential” said Hon. Pijoo Nganate, Governor Omaheke Region;

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