SECTION A: READING COMPREHENSION
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Read the following passage and answer all the questions that follow.
GBV IN NAMIBIA- MARCUSGONTES
1. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a human rights issue of endemic proportions in Namibia. One
out of three women has experienced, or will experience, GBV in their lifetime. Furthermore,
it is estimated that one out of five women is in an abusive relationship.The two most common
forms of GBV in Namibia are domestic violence and rape, both of which disproportionately
affect Namibian women more than men (over 90 %).
2. Although women are the majority of victims, it is important to remember other vulnerable
groups. In particular, members of the LGBTI(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
intersex) community are subject to high levels of GBV in Namibia. Furthermore, 1 out of ten
victims of GBV is a man. Sister Namibia envisions a society based on equality in
which all people are able to enjoy a life free from discrimination and violence. GBV, no matter
who the victim is, is a crime against human rights.
3.
According to the National Gender Policy (2010-2020) from the Ministry of Gender Equality and
Child Welfare (MGECW), GBV "refers to allforms of violence that happen to women, girls men
and boys because of the unequal power relations between them". With this definition it
follows that there is a wide range of violence that qualifies as GBV. Forms of GBV include (but
is not exclusive to): Domestic violence, Rape, Sexual abuse and violence, Sexual harassment,
Some forms of trafficking, Forced prostitution, Early and forced marriages, Intimidation,
Verbal abuse, Economic violence, Physical violence and Psychological violence. The most
common forms of GBV in Namibia are domestic violence and rape, followed by sexual
harassment and forced marriages.
4.
Understanding the causes of intimate partner violence is a complex process since this type of
violence is a product of its social context. Although GBV occurs in all socioeconomic groups,
different researches concluded that GBV is more frequent and severe in lower groups of
society. While poverty is one of the key contributors to gender-based violence, other factors
such as the status of women, gender norms and alcohol consumption also contribute to the
large-scale occurrence of violence.
5. An influential theory explains that the relation between gender-based violence and poverty
is mediated through stress. Since poverty is inherently stressful, it has been argued that
poorer households have fewer resources to reduce stress compared to households in the
upper class. A study in South Africa supports this theory. Women are protected from GBV in
some of the poorest households, which are mainly supported by someone other than the
woman or her partner. This indicates that financial independence of women can be protective
in some settings, but not all. Households where women are the main breadwinner convey
additional risk to being subjected to GBV.
6. Alcohol consumption is another factor that is associated with an increased risk of all forms of
interpersonal violence. Alcohol has shown to impair ability to interpret social cues, reduce
inhibitions and to cloud judgment. Research on alcohol consumption suggests that
connections between drunkenness and violence are socially learnt and are not necessarily
universally applicable. Some researchers have noted that alcohol may act as a cultural "time
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