News

Consultative meetings and outreach are an integral part of the Ombudsman’s operations.

Having completed a year in office, the Ombudsman Advocate Basilius Dyakugha made it a point to visit all regional leaders and some communities. These visits are important because they serve as an opportunity for dialogue between the Ombudsman, regional leaders such as governors, mayors, councillors and police chiefs. The Ombudsman’s visits also serve as an opportunity to create awareness on the functions of the office, register complaints and to attend to existing complaints.  Additionally, these visits serve as an opportunity to visit solid and liquid waste management sites, in line with the Ombudsman’s mandate of investigating complaints concerning the over-utilization of living natural resources, the irrational exploration and destruction of eco systems and failure to protect the beauty and character of Namibia. The Ombudsman does not only investigate complaints reported to the office but has the prerogative to take up complaints on an own motion basis.

The Ombudsman held a three day training workshop in collaboration with the Konrad Adaneur Stiftung Angola-Namibia Office. The training emanated from the Ombudsman’s meetings with regional leaders in the Oshana region, who highlighted a need for training and awareness on various issues such as maintenance, handling of GBV cases, court procedures, etc. The training further served as an awareness initiative for the office of the Ombudsman. Awareness raising is integral to the success of the office as it enables the public to fully understand the functions of the office and how to access services.

Advocate Heather Harker was appointed as Children’s Advocate/Deputy Chief with effect from 01 October 2022.  The Children’s Advocate assists the Ombudsman in the performance of his functions relating to children by investigating complaints about services provided to children or the violation of children’s rights. She is also tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Child Care and Protection Act 3 of 2015 and other laws pertaining to children. She also raises awareness on issues pertaining to children’s rights and takes cases to court as necessary to further the interest of children.

A media campaign was launched to create awareness on children’s   rights. The campaign features   different messages form four clusters of rights namely; the rights to development, participation, survival and protection. The messages are in the form of animations; this was done in order to ensure that children are able to relate to the message contained in the animation. Posters were published in local newspapers and the animations will be shared on local television, in due course.

The Impalila Island is home to about 2500-3000 people. Residents of the island which is situated off the mainland in Katima Mulilo complained about a lack of services and facilities. Investigations are ongoing.

The Ombudsman and the Director of the Legal Assistance Centre Ms. Toni Hancox recently held a meeting with officials from the Namibian Correctional Services (NCS). The parties discussed complaints against the NCS and ways to find solutions to some of the issues raised by complainants. In the 2021-22 reporting year, we recorded a total of 269 complaints against the NCS, making it the institution with the third highest number of complaints against it.

The Office of the Ombudsman in partnership with UNESCO launched a report on discrimination and other challenges faced by persons with albinism. We trust that the report will serve as a tool for awareness and assist towards the elimination of discrimination and harmful practices towards persons with albinism. The report is available on the website.