From 'a luta continua' to hope for peace in Namibia: a speech by the director of sister Namibia, Laura Sasman, at the occasion of the international campaign of 16-days of activism against violence against women.

The war for liberation in Namibia came to an end more than 20 years ago. Since then, a war has been raging in Namibia and is manifested in the dangerous escalation of violent crimes against women and girls. While it is hard to get reliable data, not a day passes by without newspapers reporting on the shooting, stabbing, hacking, beating, raping, harassing, shameful humiliation or killing of women at the hands of their husbands, lovers, fathers, sons, brothers, sometime even their grandsons - in their very homes, workplaces, in schools and even in church. There are also cases where women suffer abuse and violation at the hand of strangers, but these are comparatively few.

However, this phenomenon is not specific to Namibia and the global recognition of this fact gave rise to an international Campaign of 16-Days of Activism against Violence against Women. The 16 days mark the days between the 25th November (International Day against Violence against Women) and 10th December (International Human Rights Day).

Throughout the world, the litany of typical forms of violence against women include acid throwing, breast ironing, and forms of structural violence also known in Namibia such as bride buying or lobola - which in essence imply placing restrictions on the movements of women as well as stealing of inheritance from widows. It includes furthermore forms such as bride burning, domestic violence, so-called honour killings, female genital mutilation, foot binding, forced prostitution, human trafficking, murder of pregnant women, so called corrective rope of non-conformist women, and violence against prostitutes. The global activities during these days focus on awareness raising, on the creation of forums for dialogue, on advocacy and on solidarity. The theme for this year is "from peace in the home to peace in the world; let's challenge militarism and end violence against women."

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Sister Namibia, the Bank Windhoek Theatre School and participating artists have joined the action called Say NO - UNiTE to End Violence against Women through the arts. The way in which we wish to participate in this event is to unite through the creation or reiteration of statements of hope for a Namibia where our daughters, our sisters, our mothers, our friends and ourselves are safe from physical, sexual and psychological violence that has become a scourge to our society. Each one of the artists here has joined the call to unite for action and is saying unequivocally NO to all forms of violence and practices that are degrading and humiliating not only to women, but to Namibian society as a whole. Each statement of hope, courage and wisdom will culminate in our collective mantra which will be heard throughout Namibia.

Our collective prayer for peace in our homes and peace in our country will be joined by similar prayers around the world. Let us unite say NO to all forms of violence that continue to keep us captive as a people not only in Namibia, but in the world not only during these 16 days.