The UNFPA-Ghana Country Representative, Niyi Ojuolape, says sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and young girls has been allowed to escalate to epidemic proportions.
He adds that in Ghana, approximately 94% of children between the ages of one and fourteen are said to have experienced one form of gender-based violence.
A 2018 report estimated that 650 million women and girls in the world today are married before the age of eighteen.
In West and Central Africa, where this harmful practice remains rampant, approximately four out of ten young women are married before the age of eighteen.
This situation inhibits a girl’s potential and leads to additional issues such as interruption of education, isolation, and early pregnancy.
All these factors increase the risk of women and girls experiencing domestic violence.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence in Accra, Mr. Ojuolape said this year the United Nations wants to use this physical means to bring attention, particularly to the violence online.
“Violence in the online world is real yet we don’t know much about it. Violence and abuse online will limit the right of women to express themselves equally, freely, and to express themselves without fear. In many instances, the impact on victims of online abuse includes issues of harassment which affects their confidence as a result of stress, anxiety, panic and many more.”
In a message, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous indicated that violence against women is a global crisis that often goes unreported, silenced by stigma, shame, fear of the perpetrators, and fear of a justice system that does not work for women.
“Violence against women is a global crisis; in all of our neighborhoods, there are women and girls living in danger. Around the world conflict, climate-related natural disasters, food and security, and human rights violations are exasperating violence against women. More than 70% of women have experienced gender-based violence in some crisis settings and in countries both rich and poor.”
She indicated that at the United Nations and across the world, they are celebrating those who are working to protect women and girls and defend their human rights adding that “we welcome new partners, government, organizations, institutions, community groups, and people everywhere to join us. Raise your voice together to transform lives not only during the 16 days of activism but every day.”
Meanwhile, Communication Specialist and Gender Advocate, Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, has reiterated the need to scrap medical fees paid by victims of rape and defilement.
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The fees she said prevent many victims from seeking justice.
She said there is a need for the country to have proper policy coordination from reporting of rape to Medical Examination.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
