WiLDAF Participates in a Students' Forum at Ho to Climax the 16 Days Campaign
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs,MOWAC in collaboration with significant Stakeholders working to end viole ce against Women, including WiLDAF Ghana have climaxed this year’s 16Days Campaign against gender-based violence with a Youth Forum in the Volta regional capital, Ho. The forum was aimed at educating the youth about the need to end violence in the society.
In an address to the gathering, the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah stated that the 16 Days of the Global campaign from November 25th to December 10th were chosen in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. She stated that the 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence is used to create awareness on the negative impact of violence against women and children and to end it. It was also used to commend the work of Human rights Defenders.
She bemoaned the fact that efforts at ending violence against women are not commensurate with the results due to some socio-cultural barriers. The Hon Minister said Women have still not gained equality and recognition, lack the economic power to engage in viable activity, have no access to proper health care, education and food as well as the right to own property. She stressed the need for the students to take their studies very seriously in that education opens opportunities and avenues for improved livelihoods. She then appealed to the Traditional leaders to refrain from shielding perpetrators of abuse especially sexual offenders and allow the full rigours of the law to take its cause.
Speaking on the topic: “Violence against Women and Children: Human Rights Implications for Ghana’s Development, the Communications and Advocacy Officer of WiLDAF Ghana, Mercy C. Adjabeng stated that the endemic nature of violence in the society requires the coordinated effort of all stakeholders to tackle it. Citing the UNICEF 2011 Situational Analysis of Ghanaian Women and Children, Mrs. Adjabeng said the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service,(DOVSSU) had recorded over 13,000 cases in 2010. This record indicates an increase in child abuse with 85% of victims being girls.
She said the menace has dire financial and human resource implications on Ghana’s development. As a result, she called on all stakeholders, particularly traditional leaders and government to collaborate with Civil Society Organizations (NGO’s) to step up the fight and eradicate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and children in the society. She particularly called on government to show its commitment by providing adequate logistical and financial resources to the national Machinery as well as the institutions and agencies established to combat violence like the DOVVSU and the Courts.
Other partners including the UN Systems, Girl Child Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service and the National Youth Authority gave solidarity messages.
Earlier, the 850 students and other participants went on a procession through the principal streets of Ho with placards aimed at creating awareness on the need to end violence. Messages on some of the placards read; “Say No to Wife Battery”, “Men, Women, Unite to Stop Violence “and “No Child Trafficking”
By Mercy C. Adjabeng