The church is a safe place. This message formed the core of a peaceful protest, led by the Council of Churches in Namibia, as congregants marched down Independence Avenue, demanding justice for women and children who have been raped or murdered. 

Church leaders have called on communities to speak openly about crime and mental health issues that contribute to gender-based violence and femicide. 

Bishop Christopher Gaya of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa was among the prominent voices urging collective accountability and healing.

"Yes, church is a safe place for all: for men, for women, for children, for the people of the community, and so on. Under the leadership of the Council of Churches, there are many structures and places where people can go and express themselves and speak about the challenges that they have. Mental health is something that we stigmatise in our communities, especially among our communities."

General Secretary of the Council of Churches in Namibia, Reverend James Fredericks, emphasised that although the demonstration drew a moderate crowd, its message still stands: "Enough is enough."

"Today we, as the church, are saying enough is enough; we, as the church, take a stand and say stop gender-based violence against our mothers, our daughters, and our sisters."

Bishop Patrick Djuulume of the Anglican Diocese of Namibia read excerpts from a petition handed over to police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo. 

The petition called for intensified efforts from law enforcement and policymakers to curb the growing scourge of gender-based violence.

"As Namibia is aware that we are in a gender-based violence and sexual abuse situation, we came together in an umbrella, of course, to present our petition today to the General of the Namibian police for a call for urgent action against sexual abuse and gender-based violence."

Bishop Frank Schütte of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia underscored the urgency of the matter, stating that gender-based violence happens anywhere, with no economic exception.

"I am here because gender-based violence is always perceived as something that happens in the poor communities, but it happens in the more affluent just the same; it's just that people don't talk about it, and we need to talk about it and open up and allow people to talk about the injustices that are happening in gender-based violence."