GBV: What happens when the hashtags disappear?

Next steps
Namibia has policies and plans to address gender-based violence, but questions remain over whether promises are being turned into action.
Ndapandula Lilonga
  • 2 Weeks Ago

Almost two years ago, Namibians and South Africans joined a powerful online movement against gender-based violence (GBV), with thousands changing their social media profile pictures to purple in solidarity with women affected by rape, murder and other forms of violence.

For many young people, social media became a way to speak out about an issue that had long been part of their communities and conversations. The movement pushed GBV and femicide into the spotlight. People took to the streets, signed petitions, shared their stories and called on political leaders to act.

But when the protests ended, and the hashtags disappeared from social media feeds, the attention gradually faded.

Yet for families who have lost daughters, sisters, mothers and friends, the crisis does not simply disappear.

The recent discovery of at least nine women’s bodies in and around Ekurhuleni, South Africa, has once again placed violence against women and femicide at the centre of public attention. Police have not established that the deaths are linked to a single perpetrator, but the cases have sparked renewed fear, anger and calls for action.

They have also raised a familiar question across the region: what happens after the outrage?


Looking locally

Namibia has experienced its own moments of national mobilisation following horrific cases of violence against women. In 2025, the murders of Ingrid Maasdorp, Roswinds Fabianu and Beyoncé !Kharuxas in Okahandja sparked protests and widespread demands for justice and stronger protection for women and children.

A petition containing 21 recommendations was submitted and the government announced several interventions. However, more than a year later, questions remained about the progress of the investigations. Network Media Hub reported in July that no arrests had been made, while relatives said communication from the police had largely stopped.

For Brigit Loots, a Sister Namibia consultant for social and gender development, the problem is not necessarily a lack of policies or ideas.

“We don’t necessarily have a shortage of ideas or recommendations; we have a problem with implementation, resourcing and accountability,” Loots said.

Namibia has policies and plans addressing GBV, including recommendations for improved data collection, adequately funded shelters, accessible protection orders, stronger police capacity and expanded support services.

The challenge, Loots argues, is turning those commitments into practical measures that people can see and access.


Tools for activism

For young Namibians who have grown up with social media as a major platform for activism, the question is not simply how to create another campaign. It is how to keep attention on an issue after the hashtags stop trending.

Young people and communities can play a role by asking what happened to promises made after high-profile cases.

Instead of simply asking government to “do something”, they can ask more specific questions: What was promised? Who is responsible? Was funding allocated? What has been achieved? And, if a commitment has not been fulfilled, why?

“Outrage cannot be the accountability mechanism,” Loots said.

Protests and social media campaigns can bring attention to GBV, but their impact depends on what follows.

For Namibia, the challenge is not only responding when another case shocks the nation. It is ensuring that policies are implemented, resources reach those who need them and commitments made during moments of national attention are followed through long after the crowds have gone home.

For a generation that has shown it can mobilise online within hours, the next challenge may be sustaining that pressure when the hashtags disappear.