WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

http://www.wildaf-ao.org/eng/spip.php

 

"Every Ghanaian irrespective of the status, political affiliation, economic background, religion or gender, has a responsibility in ensuring that a daughter, sister, mother, niece, grandmother and other female relatives are protected from violence."

 

PRESS RELEASE

“16 Days, 16 Ways of Ending Violence against Women” – WiLDAF Ghana commemorates the global campaign in Ghana

 25th November to 10th December 2010

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, and with this important landmark, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana) considered new ways to utilize the campaign for transformative change. The attention that gender-based violence has received in national, regional and international fora is a testimony to the powerful actions of women’s rights activists around the world. Yet, despite this increased awareness, women continue to experience violations in alarming numbers and new forms of violence are emerging. As women’s rights organizations, and good citizens of Ghana, we have a responsibility to look more closely at the structures that permit gender-based violence to exist and persist. More importantly, every Ghanaian irrespective of the status, political affiliation, economic background, religion or gender has a responsibility in ensuring that a daughter, sister, mother, niece, grandmother and other female relatives are protected from violence.

Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana) rallied its activities around a special theme: “16 Days, 16 Ways of Ending Violence Against Women” with a focus on involving  “specialized” groups, which include:

·        Media: Through the media gender based abuses particularly against women and girls are highlighted for the attention of the police. At the same time, the media is a useful tool to reaching a large number of people with messages on ending gender based violence. WiLDAF will hold a day’s seminar with the media to identify enhanced ways of ending violence against girls and women.

·        Islamic leaders;         Many people will report gender based violence to religious leaders. Given the critical role these leaders play in our society, knowledge of the Domestic Violence Act, where to go for help and techniques for dealing with reported cases will be the focus of discussion.    .

·        People living with HIV and AIDS: Gender inequality, low socio-economic status of women, and gender based violence make women and girls more vulnerable to HIV infection. WiLDAF Ghana has taken the initiative to involve persons living with HIV/AIDS in the  campaign to provide them with the space to air their views on how to help break the silence and say no to violence.

 

·        Teachers and students: Recent media and public outcry against violence in educational institutions usually perpetrated by teachers, proprietors or other students require an in-depth discussion on what can be done to put an end to this practice. Teachers and students will candidly share their views on how to address violence in educational institutions.

 

·        Rural women farmers: While the existence of formal mechanisms of redress such as the police, courts, and NGOs are readily available in urban areas, women farmers in rural areas   face peculiar challenges because of their situation. Thus, ways by which women farmers in rural areas can deal with violence will be discussed at a seminar.

 

·        Traditional Authorities: Within the informal setting, traditional leaders play a key role in mediating cases of violence, referring egregious cases to the police as well as educating citizens on their rights. Queen mothers will meet to deliberate on their roles in ensuring that communities live free of violence.

 

·        Human rights defenders: 29th of November has been set aside globally as  International Women’s Human Rights Defenders Day, therefore WiLDAF is dedicating that day for a public forum targeting over 200 participants to celebrate activism, advocacy and courageous acts of resistance of some human rights activists/defenders.

 

·        People with Disability: Disabled persons are subjected to various forms of abuse. A seminar with this group will enable them to present their special concerns to policy makers

 

The events were held in the Western, Central, Volta and Greater Accra  Regions.

The 16 Days Campaign is a global initiative that seeks to: raise awareness at the local, national and international levels regarding violence against women, strengthen local work, link local and global activism, provide a forum for dialogue and strategy-sharing, pressure governments to implement the commitments they have made in national and international legal instruments, and demonstrate the solidarity of activists around the world.  The 16 Days Campaign originated at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute organized by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991, and over the course of the last 20 years, more than 3,400 organizations in 164 countries have participated in the campaign.

The campaign begins on November 25 because that date has been designated International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.  Additionally, November 25 is significant here in Africa because the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights entered into force on this date five years ago.  The concluding date for the campaign, December 10, is celebrated as International Human Rights Day because the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on this date in 1948.  Violence against women is one of the most serious human rights violations in the world today.  This year the global theme for the 16 Days campaign is “Militarism and Violence Against Women”. 

For Further information please contact Patricia Essel or Mercy Adjabeng on 00233- 0302 -768349 or info@wildaf.org

Signed by

Bernice Sam, National Programme Coordinator

WiLDAF Ghana

22nd November 2010

__________________________________________________

http://www.wildaf-ao.org/eng/spip.php?article1528

GHANA - MEN'S PLEDGE AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

World Vision Ghana, Enslavement Prevention Alliance, West Africa (EPAWA) and Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment is organized a "Men’s Walk" against violence against women on December 4 to pledge to end violence against women and girls which is on the increase in Ghana. Journalists, clergy, actors, security agencies, parliamentarians, musicians and gender advocates will march through some principal streets of Ghana’s capital Accra, and listen to talks from men who have fought on behalf of women to appeal to their fellow men to join hands in the fight against gender violence. A Petition would be presented to Parliamentarians after the march.

One (1) in every three (3) women is affected by violence within the family in Ghana. Over 109,784 cases of domestic violence have been recorded in Accra alone within the last decade.

Today, Ghana is experiencing widespread gender violence including sexual violence, rape, incest, sexual harassment, trafficking for sexual exploitation, domestic violence physical violence, and cultural practices which includes, child marriages, female genital mutilation, Trokosi, violence against elderly women accused of witchcraft, widowhood inheritance and widowhood rites. As men, we recognize that violence against women and the girl child affects men as well as women. It affects the Family, the Community and the Nation.

We recognize that men and male leaders have an important role to play in stopping gender-based violence, and acting as role models for other men. Today, we are joining our voices to denounce gender-based violence in Ghana and to publicly commit ourselves to work in active solidarity with women, government and NGOs committed to end the ongoing gender-based violence in Ghana.

As men, we call upon other men and male leaders to publicly speak out, and to join in this global call to protect Ghanaian women and children from all types of gender based violence. As men, we affirm that protecting women and girls and affirming their dignity is Positive Masculinity. By signing this pledge you are committing yourself to be a role model for positive masculinity and to promote gender equality and equity beginning with your family, friends, work place, and community.