Namibia adopted its first National Action Plan (NAP) in 2019 for the period 2019-2024. The NAP was developed by a National Task Team, which consisted of several ministries and UN technical advisors. Civil society organizations were included in the development process of the NAP through consultative meetings. Namibia’s NAP builds on the country’s National Gender Policy, developed for the 2010-2020 period. The NAP is also seen as complementary to the other mechanisms and frameworks developed to advance women’s rights in Namibia. The overarching goal of the NAP is to create “a safe and peaceful Namibia where all women, men, girls and boys have equal rights and live without fear or want and in dignity” (p. 16). The NAP includes a detailed implementation matrix, which includes an allocated budget.
Namibia reported on the implementation of its NAP, as well as WPS commitments, in its national reporting for Beijing+25 and in preparation for CSW64 (2020). Specifically, the country provided the following updates, among others (pp. 62-63):
- Namibia has aligned its outcome indicators to the AU Continental Results framework where relevant. Progress on the implementation of the Action Plan will be monitored annually to look at the challenges faced by stakeholders in the implementation of the Action Plan; proposals of possible solutions to these challenges; and documenting successes and planning for possible replication.
- Gender equality is an important tenet of Namibia’s Foreign Policy, and as a result, in 2016, Namibia, together with Spain, Canada, Chile, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates launched the Global Focal Points Network, in recognition that national and regional efforts are vital for the full and effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.
- In 2018, Namibia successfully inscribed Women, Peace and Security as a standalone agenda item at the last meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The result of this is that SADC member states are now required to report to SADC about their national activities and policies as they relate to the effective implementation of the WPS Agenda.
- The National Development Plan (NDP5), the Harambee Prosperity Plan, (2015), The National Gender Policy (2010-2020) and National Plan of Action on Gender- Based Violence (2012-2016) are all frameworks that address gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the protection of women.
Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990. The most recent armed conflict in the country’s history is the Caprivi Conflict, which lasted from 1994 until 1999 and took place between the Namibian government and the secessionist Caprivi Liberation Army. The conflict displaced thousands of people, who took refuge in the neighboring Botswana.
At the multilateral level, Namibia most recently served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 1999-2000. The Council adopted Resolution 1325, the landmark resolution of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, under the Presidency of Namibia on 31 October 2000.