By: June Shimuoshili
If we are serious about ending gender-based violence in Namibia, we cannot leave boys and men out of the conversation.
For generations, many boys have been taught that crying is weakness, vulnerability is embarrassing and asking for help is something only women do.
Then we are surprised when men struggle to communicate their pain.
This does not excuse violence. Nothing excuses violence.
But prevention requires us to understand the emotional environments in which people grow up.
Boys need to learn that anger is an emotion, but violence is a choice. They need to know how to communicate jealousy, rejection, heartbreak and disappointment without harming another person.
Girls need the same emotional education.
Families should be places where children can say, “I am struggling,” without being mocked.
Schools should teach healthy relationships, emotional regulation, consent and conflict resolution.
Communities should make counselling accessible and acceptable.
And men who seek therapy should not be treated as weak.
We cannot tell people to “speak up” about mental health and relationships while creating an environment that punishes them for doing so.
Namibia’s GBV crisis requires accountability, but it also requires prevention.
That means raising boys who understand that masculinity is not control.
It means raising girls who know that love does not require tolerating abuse.
It means teaching couples that disagreement is normal, but violence is not.
Most importantly, it means creating communities where someone can say, “I am not coping,” and receive support before their pain becomes destructive.
We cannot hashtag our way out of GBV.
We have to raise emotionally healthier human beings.
