Accra: Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for an end to violence against women, including gender-based violence. The Vice President made the appeal in her keynote address at a National Dialogue to mark this year's International Women's Day (IWD) in Accra, on the theme 'Resetting the Agenda for Women: Accelerating Action on Women's Rights, Equity, and Empowerment.'
According to Ghana News Agency, this year's IWD marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a commitment to advancing women's rights globally. Reflecting on Ghana's progress, Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls. She highlighted various forms of violence, including human trafficking, domestic violence, accusations of witchcraft, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and sexual violence, urging for sustained action to eliminate these practices.
The Vice President stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of these issues, which obstruct women's advancement and enforce mediocrity. She called for a commitment to tackle systemic barriers, including harmful societal practices and economic and educational inequalities, that hinder women's progress.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need for solidarity with women and girls, promoting dignity and intolerance to any form of violence, regardless of the setting. She reiterated the importance of sustained and inclusive action in women's leadership, economic empowerment, girls' education, reproductive health rights, and eliminating gender-based violence.
Highlighting the Government's initiatives, the Vice President mentioned the immediate action on providing sanitary pads to keep girls in school. She called for the passage of the Affirmative Action Act to push forward policies that uplift, protect, and empower all Ghanaian women.
The Vice President concluded by emphasizing the need for an intersexual, intergenerational women's dialogue to reset the agenda, aiming to uplift all Ghanaian girls and women, regardless of their backgrounds and abilities. This milestone aims to include all, from students and homemakers to professionals and rulers, ensuring that every Ghanaian woman is valued and empowered.
