WINDHOEK, Namibia −  As part of the #16DaysOfActivism2024 campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the United Nations in Namibia, including UNFPA, in collaboration with the European Union, the Namibia Football Association (NFA), and other partners, hosted a soccer tournament on Saturday, 7 December 2024. The event, held at the NFA Technical Centre, aimed to raise awareness about GBV through sports.

The 7-a-side tournament featured teams from Bank Windhoek Namibia, FUTSAL, Namibia Breweries Limited, Standard Bank Namibia, First National Bank Namibia, the Namibian Media Team, the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Poverty Eradication, and male employees from the Namibian Newspaper. The final ended in a penalty shootout, with the Namibia Media Team defeating Standard Bank Namibia 5-4 to win the trophy.

By using sports as a platform, we can engage communities, raise awareness and foster the collective action needed to tackle GBV in Namibia.

"This event highlights the importance of collaboration and the role of every sector in fighting Gender-Based Violence," said UNFPA Namibia Representative, Erika Goldson. "By using sports as a platform, we can engage communities, raise awareness and foster the collective action needed to tackle GBV in Namibia."

The event also served as an opportunity to address the cultural and social root causes of GBV. Isak Hamata, Marketing and Sales Director of the Namibia Football Association, emphasized the role of football in bringing people together for a common cause. "Sport is a powerful tool to create awareness and bring about change. Through this tournament, we hope to inspire individuals and communities to take a stand against GBV," said Hamata.

Other partners included NAMDEB, WhatsOn, Dessert Radio, The Namibian Newspaper, and AdForce. The media played an important role in the event, contributing to the campaign's outreach and spreading the message of ending GBV.