Takoradi: Madam Maribel Akuorkor Okine, the Western Regional Director for the Department of Gender, emphasizes the need for communities to address the issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), which continues to be perpetuated by unequal gender relations and societal norms.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Western Regional Director for Gender was speaking at the launch of the 'Breaking the Silence Project', an initiative led by GIZ and undertaken by HURDS, a local NGO. The project aims to address the pervasive issue of GBV, which affects individuals of all genders, including men, women, and children, and requires a collaborative community response.
The Domestic Violence Act of 2007 has been a significant step in tackling GBV, and there are ongoing efforts to review and enhance its implementation. The 'Break the Silence Project', supported by GIZ and implemented by HURDS, seeks to stimulate social reflection on the consequences of GBV and discrimination in the region.
Madam Okine highlighted the project as crucial, especially in light of reported cases of child abuse, planned child marriages, and other forms of GBV in communities. She noted that GBV can disrupt community cohesion, leading to social isolation, stigma, and discrimination against survivors, in addition to causing emotional and economic hardships.
She urged collective action to challenge unequal gender relations, promote equal rights, and provide accessible services such as counseling, shelters, and rehabilitation programs for GBV survivors. Madam Okine also stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable through diligent prosecution and closing legal loopholes that allow GBV cases to go unpunished.
Madam Eva Ankrah, Executive Director of HURDS, stated that the seven-month project aims to raise awareness and educate communities on SGBV, provide support to survivors, and engage community members in prevention efforts.
Madam Patience Agyare-Kwabi, Consultant on the S(HE) Project for GIZ, expressed hope that the initiative would reduce abuses towards all genders in communities. She called on stakeholders to support the project's implementation to foster a nondiscriminatory and transformative society where everyone's rights are respected.
The GIZ (S(HE) projects focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), enhancing the well-being and rights of women and girls, strengthening civil society organizations, raising awareness, and improving access to healthcare services.
