The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) says violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of children remain the biggest challenges facing Namibia's children.

This was revealed by the acting director for Gender Equality, Child Care and Protection, Rahimisa Kamuingona, in an interview on the Day of the African Child.

Kamuingona said child protection remains a priority for the ministry, alongside efforts to address poverty, vulnerability and limited access to essential services.

She noted that the government continues to implement programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable children through grants, family-strengthening initiatives and alternative care arrangements.

"We still face children who have challenges, whether it is to have proper parental care or to be without parents. So we also prioritise alternative care. We prioritise programmes that strengthen family, ensuring that despite challenges, the children remain with their families, because for us, families are a priority."

Kamuingona further stressed the importance of access to essential services, including education, healthcare, birth registration, water and sanitation.

The Chief Director for Programmes and Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Education, Irene Garthoff, says while Namibia has made progress in promoting children's rights through accessible education, improved child survival rates and social welfare programmes, disparities between urban and rural areas remain a concern.

"Child survival has definitely improved in the country. And then also in terms of social aspects, we're looking at welfare programmes that look at the needs of the learners, or not just the learners but every single child. So for vulnerable populations, there is that mechanism that has been built and put in place to support them."