Allexer Namundjembo
The ministry of gender equality and child welfare has launched a national campaign to address child marriage. The campaign includes child-friendly materials based on the child care and protection act of 2015.
The materials aim to help children, parents, and communities understand the law, especially the provision that prohibits marriage under the age of 18.
The campaign was officially launched on 12 June during the Day of the African Child.
Minister Emma Kantema announced the initiative in the National Assembly last week.
She said the campaign includes posters, pamphlets, videos, social media graphics, booklets, and radio dramas.
“Child marriage remains a grave infringement on a child’s fundamental human rights,” said Kantema.
“The act unequivocally sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 years.”
She said the materials are designed to educate children about their rights and empower them to speak up, seek help, and make informed decisions about their futures.
The resources are currently available in Afrikaans, Silozi, Rukwangali, and Oshikwanyama, with plans to translate them into more local languages.
Kantema said legal protections mean little if people do not know or understand them.
“The impact of any law depends fundamentally on its accessibility and the extent to which its intended beneficiaries comprehend its provisions,” she said.
To support the rollout, the ministry will train teachers, traditional leaders, frontline workers, and community volunteers.
A feedback system will also be introduced to allow input from children and communities and improve the materials over time.
The campaign is part of a broader effort to reduce child marriage in Namibia.
A 2020 report supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) found child marriage rates as high as 39.7% in regions like Kavango.
Research by the World Bank shows that each additional year of secondary education can reduce the likelihood of child marriage by five percentage points or more.
The ministry’s campaign builds on this by promoting education as a key tool in preventing early marriages.
Over the years, government and civil society groups have worked together to end child marriage.
A national study explored the root causes in regions such as Kunene, Omusati, Kavango West, Ohangwena, and Zambezi.
It included consultations with girls, traditional leaders, and community members to inform locally grounded prevention strategies.
In 2020, the ministry released a national report showing that over 18% of girls were married before 18 in some areas.
The high rates in Kavango, nearing 40%, pushed the issue back into public focus.
Youth-led organisations have also joined the cause.
Student movements and advocacy groups launched pledge campaigns, media drives, and outreach during awareness weeks.
Through school visits, radio shows, and partnerships with traditional leaders, they encouraged families to value education over early marriage.
The ministry’s new materials are the latest step in building on this foundation.
“By empowering our children with knowledge and ensuring their understanding of their rights under the child care and protection act, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, safer, and more just society,” said Kantema.
