Namibians must redouble efforts to promote human rights: Sioka

WINDHOEK, 11 DEC – As Namibia marks 70 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the nation should redouble its efforts towards promoting awareness about human rights, the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Doreen Sioka has said.

The International Human Rights Day was commemorated here Monday along with the Day of the Namibian Women and the forceful relocation of the black communities from the Old Location to Katutura in 1959 by the South African troops.

In a speech read on her behalf, Sioka said Namibians should get together and celebrate in cooperation to discuss and highlight specific issues of the human rights in the country.

She added that the nation should further encourage vulnerable groups of people like women, minorities, youth, poor, disabled and indigenous people amongst others to take part in decision-making and demand for a seat on the table to discuss their rights.

“We commemorate Human Rights Day as way of recommitting ourselves as a nation to protecting the fundamental human rights of all people, as well as their basic human freedoms,” she explained.

Sioka noted that as the country also commemorate the Day of the Namibian Women, the nation should not forget brave women, ncluding Anna Kakurukaze Mungunda, who demonstrated bravery and heroism and faced the South African troop on that fateful day.

This day, the Minister pointed out, is dedicated to celebrating and saluting the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women in the Namibian society.

“This is also the day that we denounce injustice, inequality and enormous abuse against our Namibian women, especially at the hands of men in our society,” she said.

During the event, Khomas Governor, Laura McLeod-Katjirua, laid a wreath at the memorial grave of the heroes and heroines who were killed in 1959 for refusing to relocate to Katutura by the South African troops.

The Human Rights Day was commemorated under the theme; ‘Let’s stand up for equality, justice and human dignity.’ – NAMPA