Coalition launches 16-day activism against gender-based violence

The Coalition of Domestic Violence Legislation in collaboration with Action Aid Ghana, has launched a 16-day activism against gender-based violence to raise awareness on gender related violent issues.

Mrs. Sheila Minkah-Premo, an Apex law consultant, who spoke on the topic: “The State of Gender-Based Violence Response in Ghana,” cited women trafficking, violence against girls in school, unsafe abortion, rape, defilement, illegal sex and sexual harassment as well as demanding sex favors before offering employment, as acts that constituted violence against women and girls.

She disclosed that while 27 per cent of women and girls had ever been sexually assaulted physically by men, 33 per cent had been fondled and touched against their will when seeking employment.

Mrs. Minkah-Premo said 20 per cent of Ghanaian women had been harassed for sexual pleasure or favour, surprisingly; six per cent had been threatened by heads of institutions.

She said women had been through lots of ordeal and some having their education truncated for refusing to yield to sexual demands, adding “four per cent of women are greatly denied jobs for not submitting themselves for sex.”

She called on the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Women and Children (MOWAC) to collaborate to develop pragmatic measures to curb unsafe abortions, female battering, witch camping and harassment of all forms that intimidated and threatened the potentials of females in contributing to national development.

Mrs. Francesca Pobee-Hayford, who chaired the programme, said to address gender-based violence, response systems had been established in communities, rural and urban areas.

In addition, she said capacity building on conflict resolution had been initiated for the Police, the Judiciary, Department of Social Welfare and Civil Society Organizations. Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, MOWAC and Judiciary Service, presented solidarity messages to applaud the effort of Coalition of Domestic Violence for taking initiatives to address gender based violence in Ghana.

Source: GNA