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UNESCO empowers Namibian universities to foster safer campus environments
UNESCO recently facilitated a five-day training for twenty participants from local universities in Namibia to strengthen the protection of human rights. The participants, including lecturers, student counselors, administrative staff, and campus radio personalities, gained valuable insights on improving institutional responses to Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) challenges at their respective universities.
The training provided an opportunity for participants to engage in collaborative discussions and share best practices, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated approach to addressing these critical human rights issues. The training was organized under the framework of the UNESCO programme Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus). Launched by UNESCO in 2021 and supported by the governments of Switzerland, Sweden, France, and Norway, the programme empowers young adolescents in Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (HTEIs) across Eastern and Southern Africa to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Building on these efforts, a key focus of the workshop was trauma-informed care. Ashwell Forbes, the O3 Plus Coordinator at the UNESCO Windhoek Office, highlighted UNESCO’s commitment to training university staff in survivor-centered support, fostering trust, and eliminating stigma. Forbes emphasized the importance of strengthening communication strategies to address human rights concerns, enabling students to seek help and make informed decisions.
Trauma-informed care is essential in creating an environment where survivors feel supported and empowered. By equipping university staff with the tools to provide survivor-centered care, we can foster trust, break down stigma, and ensure that students feel safe seeking help. Strengthening communication strategies around reproductive health and GBV is also key to breaking taboos and empowering students to make informed choices about their well-being, said Forbes.
Leigh-Ann Black, a Student Counselor at the University of Namibia (UNAM), reflected on the workshop's impact, underscoring the critical role of collaboration and evidence-sharing in empowering participants and improving institutional responses to these challenges.
“It was an impactful three-day session that not only facilitated the exchange of evidence and lived experiences but also fostered meaningful collaboration among stakeholders. This kind of dialogue is crucial for strengthening institutional approaches to SRHR and GBV, ensuring that our responses are informed, compassionate, and effective. It empowered us as counselors to rethink strategies and build more resilient support systems for those affected,” she said.
Forbes further noted that UNESCO’s O3 Plus Programme goes beyond policy change as it aims to shift mindsets and create long-term solutions. Through this programme, UNESCO Office in Windhoek is dedicated to supporting Namibian universities in implementing peer-led initiatives, expanding awareness campaigns, and strengthening support systems to ensure that campuses remain spaces of safety, dignity, and equality.
