MTCKnockoutGenderBasedViolence comes to an end, leaving many with a new perspective on GBV.
While the MTC Knockout Gender-based Violence project, hosted at the Country Club last night, saw contenders drawing and winning in their respective matches, activists also took centre stage galvanizing action towards GBV and calling an end to these perpetual acts of violence.
The MTC Knock Out Project is aimed at using boxing as a tool to create awareness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Namibia. Speaking at the event, social activist Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi said that despite hosting an entertainment event as a tool to raise awareness of the cause, the real victims are not being entertained. He further said that more needs to be done as praying is not working.
” When it comes to domestic violence there is no draw. When you are a boxer, you have trainers, coach and someone who prepares you mentally and find guys who are about the same size as you and we buy tickets to come watch. We are here being entertained, in domestic violence, there is no entertainment and no equality,” he said.
Karuaihe-Upi further said that away from entertainment, there should be something done for Namibian women and men as many are suffering in silence.
“I am saying let us enjoy this but let’s take it away from entertainment. Where are the resources for men and women shelters? Where are sponsors to make it possible that Namibia is a stable and peaceful country but also safe? Let’s go home and fix our relationships,” said Karuaihe – Upi.
Another speaker, human-rights activist Rosa Namises spoke to the men in the crowd saying that Namibian men need to put down the gloves after the event and urged the president to declare a state of emergency.
“We have stopped marching, we don’t want anymore. I am asking the president tonight, let us call for a state of emergency so that all of us act like that,” she says.
Young social activist, Emma Theofelus poetically expressed concern on the statitistics of young people perpetrating and being victims of GBV.
” As a Namibian young woman I want the focus of statistics to shift from how many women have been victims of GBV to how many men have actually perpetrated GBV and all other forms of violence, because that way we are bringing the attention back to those that cause the violence and not those victimized by it,” she said.
Speaking at the event MTC corporate communications manager Tim Ekandjo said Namibians must stop talking and act. “As a country, we like to talk and do nothing. This is a time for action. Everybody should ask themselves what can I do to contribute. It’s not just about MTC, it’s about everyone out there. If all of us do something, something will happen,” he said.
The event saw personalities, entertainers and the corporate world come together to box, sponsor and entertain the audience with the end aim of knocking out GBV and initiating the conversation around it.
