![Plan International climaxes 16 days Activism against Gender Based Violence](https://ghananewsagency.org/assets/images/gbv-activism.jpg)
By Christabella Arko/Priscilla Oye Ofori, GNA
Accra, Dec 11, GNA - The Plan International Ghana has, climaxed a 16-day activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) with a call on government, private organisations and other stakeholders, to join efforts to find solutions to curb the menace.
The programme brought together 50 young boys and girls from various Junior and Senior High Schools, tertiary institutions across the country and teachers from selected schools and youth advocates.
This year’s programme was themed, “Orange the World; Generation Equality Stands against Rape”.
Mr Solomon Tesfamariam, the Country Director, Plan International Ghana said the organisation was working over the years through the Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA)project to end child and forced marriage, sexual violence and abuse and commercial sexual exploitation, among others.
He said the Organisation believed that all children, adolescents and young people had the right to make their own choices, control their sexual and reproductive health and lead lives free from coercion, violence, discrimination and abuse.
Girls and young women were denied from exercising their rights thereby preventing them from achieving gender equality, he said.
He mentioned that, the marking of the 16 days of activism against GBV, was towards working to ensure that there was justice for such violated children and young people with particular focus on girls.
Mr Tesfamariam commended government, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Justice for working to address abuse records of such nature.
Madam Anna Nabere, the Project Manager, GAA, said violence against women and girls was one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world and knew no social, economic, or national boundaries
On her part, it undermined the health, dignity, security and autonomy of victims, yet it remained shrouded in a culture of silence.
“The situation of GBV may be worse than we imagine because of the culture of silence surrounding the situation, violence is not a private matter, it must be uncovered in order for it to be challenged”, she added.
Madam Nabere called on the media to help in limiting the situation by showing interest in stories on rape and defilement with follow-ups and ensuring that justice was being served.
This, she said, would encourage other survivors to speak out and serve as a deterrent for other perpetrators.
A communique read by Madam Abigail Teye Mamle, a Youth Advocate, encouraged parents, guardians and family members of victims to provide the support needed in seeking justice especially in rape cases.
She urged the Ghana Medical Association to consider the charges taken for issuing medical forms for rape cases as it was a barrier for many survivors to seek justice.
She asked parents to be proactive in protecting their children by sensitising them on identifying the signs of threats and danger and establishing a relationship with them to enable them to open up on their experiences, weaknesses and fears.
Madam Mamle said it was necessary for government and private institutions to develop effective policies on sexual harassment and GBV, adding that, trustworthy and effective medium for reporting cases of enforcement of the law should be provided for victims and survivors.
She said the public should be more supportive rather than being judgmental when stories of such violent acts were shared and encouraged survivors and victims’ to support in enforcing the law by speaking about their experiences.
The 16-Day of Activism against Gender Based Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute.
It is sponsored by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991 to symbolically describe the fight against violence with respect to women and human rights.
GNA
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