DOVVSU calls for collective efforts against gender-based violence

The National Secretariat of Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), of the Ghana Police Service, on Tuesday, called for collective efforts against gender-based violence.

A statement issued in Accra to commemorate the Centenary celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), said, “We should declare a zero tolerance towards such violence by reporting to the appropriate authorities”.

The Day is celebrated globally on March 8 each year, to acknowledge the economic, political and social achievements of women, past, present and future. The first celebration was in 1911 and this year marks the Global Centenary of IWD.

This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women”.

The statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Freeman Tettey, for the Co-ordinating Director of DOVVSU, said there must be collaboration among service providers, to ensure timely and coordinated response to abuse, as well as mechanisms for whistle blowers in institutions, organisations and communities.

It said the theme for this year’s celebration was key to the empowerment of women for personal and national development, and encouraged girls and women to improve their competence and social mobility by harkening to the theme.

“Laudable as the theme may be, it is pertinent to note that gender-based violence in the form of sexual harassment and gender stereotyping at work places, schools and training institutions, defilement, forced marriages, Female Genital Cutting, inimical widowhood rites, ritual and domestic servitude, witches camps and non-child maintenance at home and the communities.”

“These tend to place untold demand on the resilience of girls and women in their quest to access education, training and science and technology in schools, training institutions, business, work places, in marriages and at home. Indeed, gender-based violence has the potential of undermining personal and national development goals,” it added.

DOVVSU commended hardworking Ghanaian women and called on all stakeholders in the hope and desire that the campaign to bring gender-based violence, which ultimately negatively affected the physical and mental well being of women to an end.

Source: GNA