Catholic Women in Namibia Lauded for Boosting Government Efforts towards Child Care

Windhoek, 13 September, 2025 / 11:23 PM

The Namibian government has commended Catholic women in the country for advancing the country’s policies on safeguarding minors and for complementing government efforts to address gender-based violence and promote equality.

In a keynote address at the celebration of the Namibian Catholic Women Movement (NCWM)’s 25th anniversary on September 6, the speaker of the country’s National Assembly emphasized that women’s role in advancing policy has positioned their movement as an indispensable partner in the nation’s development.

“This anniversary calls us to reflect not only on the achievements of the movement but also on the values that have guided you since your establishment,” Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said, and added, “The issues that form the heart of the Catholic women’s movement’s mandate are also at the very core of our nation’s laws, policies, and vision.”

“From the very beginning, you have been driven by a noble mandate: to empower women and men alike, to combat gender-based violence, to advance gender equality, to provide skills and training for sustainable livelihoods, and to foster peaceful coexistence in our communities,” Dr. Kuugongelwa said.

She noted that owing to the mandate of the Namibian Catholic women's movement, its work finds resonance and reinforcement. “You are not only complementing the government’s efforts. You are helping to make our policies real and tangible in the lives of ordinary Namibians,” she said.

The Namibian government official said that when NCWM members address gender-based violence, they are giving effect to the country’s laws and policies while also restoring dignity to families.

“When you train women and men in practical skills, you are advancing our economic empowerment agenda. When you promote peaceful coexistence, you are building social cohesion and stability. In short, you are putting the values of our Constitution into action,” she said at the event that was held at Anamulenge, Outapi Omusati Region.

Dr. Kuugongelwa compared the Catholic women’s mandate and policy advocacy efforts to the legacy of the men and women who she said sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence, noting that their vision was rooted in justice and equality.

“You may not carry arms, but you carry compassion. You may not fight battles on the battlefield, but you fight them in the home, in the classroom, in the clinic, and in the community hall,” she said in her keynote address published on Tuesday, September 9.

She added, “You are heroes in your own right, advancing the cause of dignity and justice with every life you uplift. By empowering women and men, you are honoring the sacrifices of our national heroes and heroines, and carrying forward their torch of hope.”

Dr. Kuugongelwa stated that the role of women demonstrates that development is a shared responsibility and should not be perceived as the sole mandate of the government.

“We may be the custodians of the public interest, as government, but true transformation requires the collaboration of all, the state, the church, civil society, the private sector, and communities themselves,” she said.

She elaborated that it is only by joining hands across diversity that the people of God in the country can truly build the Namibia they dream of.

“That is why the Catholic women's movement is so important,” she said, and added, “You remind us that complementarity of efforts is not just desirable but necessary, that empowerment is not a slogan but a lived reality when women and men, girls and boys, are given the tools, the opportunities, and the support they need to flourish.”

The Namibian National Assembly speaker said that the government of the Southern African nation takes pride in working hand in hand with the Church subsidize payments at schools and hospitals.

The collaboration between the church and the government, she said, is “not simply a gesture of goodwill” but “a recognition of the indispensable role that the Church continues to play in delivering essential services and uplifting communities.”

“Ours is a partnership grounded in trust and mutual respect, and it remains as important today as it was before independence,” she said.