Perceptions on gender equality, gender-based violence, lived poverty and basic freedoms

Transcription

1 Perceptions on gender equality, gender-based violence, lived poverty and basic freedoms 12 February 2015 Institute for Public Policy Research

2 At a Glance Perceptions of gender equality Namibians support of women in political leadership vs. women s interest in politics Perceptions on gender-based violence (GBV)in Namibia Insights on Namibians experience of GBV, and their perceived reasons for these crimes Perceptions of Lived Poverty trace official statics on poverty decline. Perceptions of Basic Freedoms Namibians feel that they have high levels of personal freedom.

3 What is Afrobarometer? An African-led, non-partisan survey research project that measures citizen attitudes on democracy and governance, the economy, civil society, and other topics. Started in 12 countries in 1999, expanded to 35 African countries in Round 5 ( ). Goal: To give the public a voice in policymaking by providing high-quality public opinion data to policymakers, policy advocates, civil society organizations, academics, news media, donors and investors, and ordinary Africans. National Partners in each country conduct the survey. In Namibia, Afrobarometer Round 6 survey was conducted by Survey Warehouse supervised by IPPR. Institute for Public Policy Research

4 Where Afrobarometer works

5 Methodology Nationally representative sample of adult citizens All respondents are randomly selected. Sample is distributed across all 14 regions and urban/rural areas in proportion to their share in the national population. Every adult citizen has an equal chance of being selected. Face-to-face interviews In the language of the respondent s choice. Standard questionnaire allows comparisons across countries and over time. Sample size in Namibia of 1200 adult citizens yields a margin of error of +/-3% at a 95% confidence level. Fieldwork for Round 6 in Namibia was conducted between 27 August and 19 September 2014.

6 Survey Demographics Gender Location Education Un-weighted Weighted Male 50% 50% Female 50% 50% Urban 49% 49% Rural 51% 51% No formal schooling 6% 13% Primary 22% 21% Secondary 53% 44% Post secondary 19% 22% Institute for Public Policy Research

7 Survey Demographics Province/Region Un-weighted Weighted Zambezi 4% 4% Erongo 8% 9% Hardap 4% 4%!Karas 4% 4% Kavango West 3% 3% Kavango East 6% 6% Khomas 19% 19% Kunene 4% 4% Ohangwena 10% 10% Omaheke 3% 3% Omusati 11% 10% Oshana 9% 9% Oshikoto 8% 8% Otjozondjupa 7% 7%

8 Gender equality

9 Key Findings The majority of Namibians (80%) believe women should have the same chance of being elected to political office as men. The number of Namibians who support women in political leadership grew from 70% in 2012, to 80% in Although women express higher levels of support for women in politics than men do, they continue to show lower levels of interest in politics Institute for Public Policy Research

10 Namibians support for women in political leadership in Urban Rural Male Female Total Agree very strongly with 1 Agree with 1 Agree with 2 Agree very strongly with 2 Respondents were asked: Which of the following statements is closest to your view. Statement 1: Men make better political leaders than women, and should be elected rather than women. Statement 2:Women should have the same chance of being elected to political office as men. 10

11 Changing support for women in political leadership 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 74% 67% 60% 78% 70% 86% 80% 73% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Total Male Female Respondents were asked: whether women should have the same chance of being elected to political office (vs. beliefs that men make better leaders) 11

12 Regional Support for women in political leadership 90% 80% 70% 70% 80% 79% 76% 73% 72% 77% 77% 60% 50% 51% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Namibia Botswana Lesotho Mozambique South Africa Swaziland Zambia Zimbabwe Respondents were asked: whether women should have the same chance of being elected to political office (vs. beliefs that men make better leaders) 12

13 Are women interested in politics? Very interested 24% 27% 29% 31% 35% Somewhat insterested 35% 37% 39% 38% 37% Not very interested 18% 17% 18% 18% 20% Not at all 13% 13% 15% 17% 18% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Total Female Male Rural Urban Respondents were asked: how interested they would say they were in public affairs. 13

14 Changing interests in politics 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 71% 66% 62% 82% 83% 78% 77% 75% 64% 64% 59% 60% 57% 55% 70% 66% 63% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Male Female Total Respondents were asked: How interested would you say you are in public affairs? 14

15 Do women discuss politics? Total 21% 29% 50% Female 16% 34% 50% Male 23% 26% 50% Rural 20% 29% 51% Urban 22% 28% 49% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Frequently Occasionally Never Respondents were asked: When you get together with your friends or family, would you say you discuss political matters? 15

16 Changing Trends in the discussion of politics? 80% 70% 60% 64% 61% 58% 75% 70% 66% 66% 61% 56% 69% 64% 60% 76% 71% 66% 50% 40% 30% Male Female Total 20% 10% 0% R1 R3 R4 R5 R6 Respondents were asked: When you get together with your friends or family, would you say you discuss political matters? 16

17 Gender-based violence Institute for Public Policy Research

18 Key Findings 13% of Namibian women, and 7% of men reported that they, or a member of their family had been a victim of gender based violence. Namibians felt that in 2014, alcohol abuse contributed most significantly to GBV, followed by unemployment and poverty. Culture and tradition were not perceived to be major contributors to GBV in Namibia Institute for Public Policy Research

19 Prevalence of GBV in % 90% 93% 87% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 6% 7% 6% 5% 3% 1% 1% 2% 1% No Yes, once Yes, twice Yes, three or more times Male Female Total Respondents were asked: Over the past year, how often, if ever, have you or anyone in your family: Been a victim of gender-based violence? 19

20 Fear and/or experience of crime, including GBV Felt unsafe walking in neighbourhood Feared crime in your home Had somehting stolen Been physically attacked Been a victim of GBV Urban Rural Male Female Total Respondents were asked whether they, or someone in their family feared, or had experienced the above. 20

21 Perceptions on the factors that contribute to GBV 100% 90% 27% 80% 70% 60% 50% 17% 87% 64% 68% 40% 25% 30% 20% 10% 0% 30% Cultural and traditional values 20% 18% 9% 10% 8% 1% 2% 6% 6% Alcohol abuse Poverty Unemployment Not at all A little bit Somewhat A lot Respondents were asked how much they thought the above factors contributed to GBV in Namibia in

22 Lived poverty

23 Key findings Urban and male respondents were around 9% more likely to never face food shortage in Round 6. Namibian respondents were only likely to experience food shortage several times, many times, or always with 21% agreement. Kunene, Kavango West, and Ohangwena were the only regions to experience less than half of respondents never going without food. Only three regions (Zambezi, Erongo, and Hardap) featured more than half of the respondents who never experienced a shortage of cash income. Over time since 1999, there is evidence of a decline in those reporting shortages in food and cash income. Simultaneously, those reporting never have increased over time.

24 Gone without food % 60% 50% 40% 61% 61% 57% 52% 53% 44% 45% 30% 20% 10% 0% 18% 23% 13% Never once or twice - always 15% 5% 1% Several times Many times Always Urban Rural Male Female Total Respondents were asked: How often have you gone without food? Institute for Public Policy Research

25 Gone without cash income 2014? 40% 35% 35% 35% 30% 25% 20% 26% 21% 25% 23% 19% 23% 21% 17% 15% 14% 11% 10% 5% 0% Never Just once or twice Several times Many times Urban Rural Total Respondents were asked: How often have you gone without a cash income? 25

26 Changes over time cash and food 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 57% 49% 43% 13% 78% 78% 62% 54% 47% 39% 21% 22% 74% 54% 47% 25% 65% 57% 43% 35% Never/cash Just once to always/cash never/food Just once to always/food 0% Respondents were asked: How often have you gone without food? Cash income?

27 Going without a cash income? Never/ cash income Otjiwarongo 42% Oshikoto 26% Oshana 35% Omusati Omaheke 21% 24% Ohangwena 16% Kunene Khomas 18% 39% Never/ cash income Kavango East 37% Kavango West 20%!Karas 41% Hardap Erongo Zambezi 52% 51% 54% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% How often have you gone without food?

28 Regional distribution going without food Otjiwarongo 58% Oshikoto 61% Oshana 64% Omusati 53% Omaheke 56% Ohangwena 48% Kunene 20% Khomas 56% Kavango East 61% Kavango West 48%!Karas 64% Hardap 70% Erongo 58% Zambezi 75% Never/food 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Respondents were asked: How often have you gone without food?

29 Basic freedoms Institute for Public Policy Research

30 Key findings 91% of respondents expressed that they were somewhat or completely free to say what they wanted. 98% of respondents expressed freedom to vote for whom they wanted. 95% say they are free to join any political organisation they wanted.

31 Freedom to say what you think % 70% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 21% 20% 10% 0% Somewhat free Completely free Respondents were asked: How free are you to say what you think? 31

32 Free to choose who to vote for? Vote for 13% 85% Somewhat free Completely free Respondents were asked: How free are you to choose who to vote for? Institute for Public Policy Research

33 Freedom to join any political organisation? Join any political group? 15% 80% Somewhat free Completely free Respondents were asked: Freedom to join any political organisation?

34 Conclusions

35 Conclusions Both male and female respondents felt that Namibia was ready for the gender empowerment. Alcohol was seen as the most important contributor to gender based violence. The lived poverty experience tracked the official poverty results downward. Namibian respondents continued to feel that the country experiences high levels of personal freedom. Institute for Public Policy Research