'Help our children'
There are no words to express this kind of pain and sadness. Every day we read about the tragedy of babies and small children being murdered, yet you never imagine it could happen to your family."Not because you think you are better than others," says Ansua Hammerslaght, Namibia's representative at the Mrs Universe competition, "but because we trust and believe God is in control".
Ansua and her family were recently hit hard by a case of violence against children in which a close young family member was allegedly killed by his mother. Ansua landed in Sofia, Bulgaria, yesterday to participate in the Mrs Universe competition taking place until 5 February and which focuses on gender violence this year.
"Every day you pray for the safety and health of your children. As a mother, it pains me because we are our children's protectors; we are their safety and refuge. Even if you don't want to, you can't help but think of what that tiny baby had to go through."
As a role model and someone who has experienced this first-hand, Ansua wants to place and keep awareness about gender violence and violence against women and children in the spotlight.
"I feel it can be prevented. We lose innocent babies, children and mothers. It causes so much pain and sorrow."
The latter leads to more tragedy because not everyone knows how to deal with the pain and loss, Ansua says.
Family and community members, friends, girlfriends and brothers and sisters who realize something is not right, must seek help immediately and not remain silent about it, she warns. "If we can avoid it, we won't get hurt. The government needs to put new laws in place to bring about change. This includes harsher punishment for mothers and fathers or any criminal who abuses a baby or child or takes a life."
She also feels laws should be strictly applied to prevent a child from returning to their parents after being removed due to violence or negligence.
"I want new laws. We also need to spend more time with our children at schools and orphanages to tell them they are allowed to speak out if there is something wrong."
She would also like to see the programme My Choice My Future brought back to schools, which informs children about where they can go for help.
"Our children are our future, our leaders of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Where will we end up if we don't keep them safe and protected? When I was growing up, you never heard of a ten-year-old boy hanging himself. Where are we headed, don't we realize the things happening today are unnatural?
"We need God now more than ever and we must find our way to Him. Our leaders must stand up. We cannot expect an eye for an eye; it blinds everyone. It is time for us to stand together and call on God."