Oral statement delivered on Thursday 24 September 2026 at the Human Rights Council 63rd session under Agenda item 6, Universal Periodic Review: UPR Outcome of Namibia.
Thank you, President.
I speak on behalf of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
We welcome the attention given during the review to gender-based violence. However, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) remains underreported and poorly addressed. We urge the government to enact and enhance measures and policies to prevent, prohibit, investigate and prosecute TFGBV that are gender-responsive and in line with international human rights standards.
We further welcome the consideration and call for safeguards in the application of cybercrime frameworks to prevent arbitrary surveillance, protect freedom of the press and avoid criminalisation of digital activism. We encourage Namibia to enact cyber-related frameworks and a strong data protection law aligned with international human rights law.
We encourage Namibia to support and fully implement recommendations concerning extending protection of freedom of expression and privacy to digital spaces. While we commend that Namibia largely preserves a favourable environment for freedom of expression, misinformation and disinformation have surged, disproportionately impacting women in public roles, affecting in particular their freedom of expression.
Finally, we welcome the specific call to the government to protect LGBTQ+ defenders. In Namibia, LGBTQ+ people report very high levels of online hate, and few know about legal protections or safety measures.
We encourage the government to ensure transparent and inclusive follow-up to these recommendations, including through meaningful engagement with civil society.
Thank you.