--#16Days--
the newsletter
Sex Offenders Typology and Modus Operandi
Dr. Veronica Theron
The Impact of Sexual Violence on Children
Mrs. Aini Hoaeb
Toxic masculinity and GBV: Mostert Simasiku
The role of Youth Activists in the fight against
GBV: Tuwalika Elias
Hon. Yvonne Dausab - Minister of Justice
Namibia
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Forward
Namibia has been plagued by sex-oriented gender based
violence vigorously, not a day goes by without a GBV related
cases being reported or a complaint related to gender based
crimes being reported at a police station, according to the
Windhoek City Police a total 1050 GBV related cases were
reported between January 2020 and July 2020 (the Namibian
Newspaper) meaning on average 150 GBV cases were recorded
monthly during the period, however this figures may not be
accurate as most GBV cases go unreported mainly because of
fear imposed on the victim by the perpetrator and society.
We need not only to have conversations, but we must make sure
that these conversations are intentional and purposeful. These
conversations must be geared towards problem solving, being
strategic in nature carrying a tone of responsibility, nonjudgement, honesty and consistency.
GBV and all other violent acts being rooted in patriarchy creates
a challenge for society, to tackle a phenomena that they
reinforce and relate to – a devil we are in bed with. Thus,
constant and consistent actions are an imperative in fighting the
scourge of GBV and violence in general.
As we celebrate International Human Rights Day (Recover Better
– Stand Up For Human Rights), and the end of the 16 Days of
Activism Against GBV – we progressively move towards a state of
decision and action that draws our collective strengths to
respond, prevent and collect against the social evils that stand
against achieving harmony and social cohesion within our
societies.
This newsletter is a product of a series of webinars that reflect
these ambitions of collective responsibilities and action in unison
that are aimed at creating a safe and prosperous community
we are all proud of and eager to live in.
i
Alex Gomachab
Mental Health Advocate and #BeFree Ambassador
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Forward……………………………………………………i
Sex Offenders Typology and Modus Operandi .....1
The Impact of Sexual Violence on Children …...…4
Toxic Masculinity and GBV ………..………………….6
The Role of Youth Activists in the fight
against GBV …………………………………………...9
6. Thank you Note ………………………………………..11
Sex Offenders Typology
and Modus Operandi
Dr. Veronica Theron,
Gender and Child Specialist
Office of the First Lady
What is happening in society is the
product of decades of wrong decisions
society made in the past, it is not
something that happened yesterday, and
it won't be something that is solved
overnight. Dr. Veronica stress that our
actions today will determine what fruits we
will reap in the future, thus she sees GBV
advocacy as a collective responsibility
and not a platform that must be used to
fight one other. Each one of us can make
a difference she adds.
Doctor affirms that the topic of sex
offenders and their types is an in-season
topic and a relevant topic. Doctor further
lists and defines the different types of sex
offenders. There are different typologies,
and they use different modus operandi;
the two main types are; preferential sex
offenders and situational sex offenders.
She sees GBV advocacy as a collective
responsibility and not a platform that must
be used to fight one other. Each one of us
can make a difference she adds.
1
relationships with the victim, most sex
offenders are people who the victim know
and trust. People who have groomed the
victim so they can get what they want,
we must however be cognizant that every
case has its own merits and must be
treated from that perspective.
Apart from the preferential and situational
sex offenders, Doctor mentions a few
other typologies which include:
1. Stranger rapists,
2. Date acquaintance rapist (which is the
most common and the complexities of
the relationship makes it hardest type
of rape to prove in court),
3. The sex rapists,
4. The anger rapist,
5. Sociopathic rapist (minority yet the
most harmful),
6. Sadistic rapists (seen in Namibia, they
torture or mutilate their victim as this
arouse them sexually.
7. Paedophiles (two types 7.a. Lover of
children focus on prepubic children
7.b. Hermophile focus on children that
are already sexually
Violence is a learned
behavior.
mature) it is interesting to note that
Paedophiles
share
information
about their victims,
8. Incest
rapist
the
most
underreported type of rape as it
includes family members, and it is
connected
to
economic
wellbeing and safety.
9. Gerontophile,
10. Necrophiles,
11. Beastiality.
Doctor emphasize that not all rapist are
old dirty men sleeping under bridges or
mentally ill people.
A lot of sex offenses are pre-planned, the
offenders groom their victims, other modus
operandi mentioned by Doctor include:
1. Seduction,
2. Online grooming/online
seduction
3. Trickery - not all sex offense is
violent thus it is important to
know the legal concepts and
definitions regarding social issues,
4. Bribery,
5. Blame,
6. Embarrassment (very common),
7. Threats,
8. Secrecy,
9. There is also organised rape
crime - sex tourists.
People delay reporting or refuse to report
acts of violence against them because of
the relationship she/he may have with the
offender, or the economic benefits that
come with the situation. The status of the
perpetrator in society - these offenders are
acquitted easily. The delay in the judicial
processes that are involved and the
secondary trauma that characterize these
processes is more painful than actual
trauma and, in most cases,, this leads to
victims withdrawing cases.
The Office of the First Lady released a
report titled the Problematic Mindsets
produced after interviewing criminals in
the Namibian Correctional facility, the
core things that came out of these
interviews were that
1. Broken homes and dysfunctional
families are the main reason of sex
offences - Violence is a learned
behaviour.
2. Fatherlessness.
3. Childhood trauma.
4. Undealed with trauma.
In the report, offenders mention lack of
love predominately as a feature that most
have in common, the hate for their
parents are some denominators sex
offenders share.
2
Kings
Who did you turn to as a
boy when you felt hurt
and afraid?
3
Mrs. Aini Hoaeb
Regional School
Counsellor
Kunene Region
Sexual violence against children is a broad concept but in
essence it is the subjection of children to sexual activities
that range from rape (statutory rape), child pornography
and other sexual acts, these acts are influenced by the
perpetrator's desire to quench their sexual desires through
abusing children sexually. Statutory rape is a common
phenomena in society and small towns like Khorixas
because of the cultural believes, perpetrators are in most
cases fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews,
cousins, people whom the victim knows and trust, and
those that have easy access to the victims. Mrs. Hoaeb
stated that these acts mostly took place at homes or at
places where children thought they would feel safe..
The Impact of Sexual Violence on
Children
Mrs Hoaeb list shame, loss of trust, decline in academic performance, change in
behaviour, fear and depression as some of the adverse effects victims of sexual violence
suffer from. Apart from cultural stereotypes and the aforementioned trauma responses,
she states that the most predominate emotion most victims feel is denial, one clear
example of this has been portrayed in a journal entry by a rape victim which states, "I did
something that no 16 year old girl should have done." She also mentioned that sexual
violence is not only traumatic for the victim but for all involved. She further mentions the
ignorance surrounding the emotional and psychological aspect of children and victims
and how to preserve and protect the
Mrs Hoaeb states that there are various legal frameworks in place to protect children and
adolescents against sexual violence however she states that these should be
strengthened as family dynamics and other factors like fear, shame and threats limit the
victims from reporting acts against them and thus prosecution rate of the cases that are
reported is very low. She also stated that there is a need to strengthen both the legal and
psychological operational lines through capacitation and training to better identify
trauma and approach it with the needed methods to ensure it is addressed and
perpetrators are convicted.
Children relive this traumatic experiences mentally each day, she highlighted the second
degree trauma develops when children are not believed when they disclose what
happened to them and further develops trauma when the case is lost in court. Despite
this she urges victims to reached out to those they trust or contact Childline/lifeline at 101
to talk to someone.
4
GBV in Namibia At a Glance
1 in 3 Women in
86% of sexual and
Namibia will be
assaulted in the lifetime
domestic violence
survivors are women.
93%
14.9% of survivors
of perpetrators are
men.
29,5% of young men
agree that a husband is
justified in beating his
wife.
sought help from the
police.
28.3%
of young
women agree that a
husband is justified in
beating his wife.
Data curtesy of NDHS 2013
5
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Mostert Simasiku
Sociology and Political Science Student
University of Namibia
Radical Feminist.
Toxic Masculinity and GBV
Mostert states that the current trend of
violence is a reflection of the society we
live in, it shows that we have a problem
and that problem reflects itself as violent
acts. She stresses that society should be
deliberate in the quest to find solution for
the problem through identifying the root
causes of these problems to avoid this
disruption in the long run.
Mostert defines masculinity as a set of
actions and behaviours that define
manhood, toxic masculinity is a repressive
description of manhood, a destructive
definition of what it constitutes to be a
man, she says. Toxic masculinity defines
manhood through sex, status and
aggression. Another characteristic of
toxic masculinity is the objectification of
women especially their body.
Mostert states that toxic masculinity is a
learned trait, is rooted in patriarchy, and
justified by that system. She explains its
aspects further from the sociology
perspective of the theory of hegemonic
masculinity, this theory outlines how
derogatory forms of manhood come to
be. According to the theory four rules
needed to be a men are:
1. No sissy stuff – the theory argues
that to be a men you must
rebuke everything feminine.
2. You need to have power
particularly
money/social
status/power (the three aspects
of willing which is a requisite to
be
considered
a
man).
This need for power or willing
can be expressed in toxic and
negative behaviours.
3. Men have to show up and be
heroes in the times of crisis,
always
cool,
calm
and
collected.
4. Masculine men always show
aggressive daring behaviours,
living life on the edge and
taking risks.
She further emphasize that toxic
behaviours are perpetuated by mass
media and in recent times by the digital
space. Society has normalized male
aggression and toxic masculinity, and this
is visible through statements like “boys will
be boys or that is just the way men are.’
Boys are taught violence as
preventative strategy.
6
Mostert also highlights the forms in which toxic masculinity manifest itself, she mentions
unhealed childhood trauma and disregarded childhood depression as basis that serve
future aggressive and violent behaviours. She identifies lack of communication between
caregivers and children as a reason that amplifies violence and aggression.
Men must realise that they power can not only be acquired through dominance,
aggression and violence, they must also know that they can be masculine just being
toxic.
Mostert says that the solution for toxic masculinity lies in the family, schools and in
individuals, everyone plays a part to come up with a solution collectively. She states that
power should be defined consistently across both genders, and boys should not be given
preferential treatment over girls during power struggles as this paints a disturbing picture
which is interpreted wrongly by both genders.
Toxic masculinity can be unlearned.
Toxic Masculinity
Power Dynamics
Aggression
Manipulation
Violence
Hate Speech
Slut Shaming and Victim Blaming
7
#ShutItAllDown!!!
Bringing together a generation of
forward thinking, rule challenging,
fearless leaders to stand against the
scourge that is GBV a crime against
humanity.
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8
Tuwilika Elias
Clinical Psychology Graduate
#BeFree Intern
The Role Youth Activists can Play in the
Fight Against GBV
Namibia is not only face with GBV but violence in general that is not only perpetuated
against women but also men. It is frustrating that we are in 2020 and things are not getting
better, it is evident that our solutions are not speaking to our problems. Violence continues
each and every day, which means the solutions put in place are not helping to curb
violence in general.
Tuwilika says activism has a role to play as the voice for the voiceless. She defines activism
as a weapon to fight a social problem and what it entails, activism is surrounded by
optimism to solve societal problems and issues.
Tuwilika list solving society's problems through bringing change as the first pillar of activism
and then helping others as the second pillar of activism by recommending, proposing, or
suggesting ideas that will solve the problem and lastly, she mentions that activists have to
hold decision makers and policy makers accountable. The action of activism is speaking
up against inequality, injustice and intolerance she says.
Tuwilika blames society's acceptance and cultural norms that protect male dominance,
she states that these norms exacerbate aggression and violence.
She advises activists that a strategy, purpose and objectives are needed to understand
the root cause of the problem, and further states that engaging with both the victim and
perpetrator is an important step activists need to employ so that you can come up with
effective as well as appropriate interventions that are inclusive of both the victim and the
perpetrator. This will also elevate their voice and ensure that they are heard. Mutual
standards are a requisite for activism to have a lasting impact.
9
Both a Personal and Public Fight
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab said femicide is a reality for Namibian women and it
dilutes the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.
She added that the 16 days of activism in its historic context speaks volumes about the
plight of women and children.
“As a ministry, we are committed to amending our domestic violence and rape
legislation, looking at sentencing, improvement of the text of the law to increase
safeguards of protection of children especially those living with disabilities, and provide
victim-centred laws,” said Dausab before narrating a traumatic experience from her past
when she witnessed the horrific death of her aunt.
Dausab said: “My aunt was brutally killed by her jealous boyfriend, stabbed 17 times – and
as an eight-year-old, it may not look like this at the moment – my aunt had run into the
bedroom and locked it, bleeding to death in this bedroom of ours. A room in which I slept
for many nights before but could not sleep in many nights after because I was pushed
through the window to open the door, finding my aunt in a pool of blood which had
splashed all over the door. The stand-up against GBV is personal and public to me.”
-New Era Newspaper 25/11/2020
Hon. Yvonne Dausab
Minister of Justice
Thank You Note
I would like to extent my deep and profound gratitude and appreciation to
everyone who took part in the webinar series and wholeheartedly,
unreservedly shared their expertise and experience on the issue of GBV and
violence.
You guys are amazing.
I would also further like to say thank you to everyone who continuously push
me to take up space by challenging me and also exposing me opportunities
that give me a chance to serve. I remain indebted to you.
We will only emerge victorious against GBV if we hold hands, tackle
patriarchy and act decisively.
#ItStartsWithMe
Find me on Social Media for more Contact:
Emmil Alex Gomachab
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