Madam Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has made a heartfelt appeal to Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) to provide temporary shelters for victims of domestic violence due to the Ministry's insufficient resources.
During the High-Level Dialogue on Combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Harmful Practices, organized as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Madam Abudu stressed the urgent need for shelter. She acknowledged the funding limitations faced by the Ministry and pleaded with the RCCs to assist in providing safe spaces for victims.
“Victims need somewhere to stay or hide, be clothed and supported after escaping from abuse,” she stated, emphasizing the critical role shelters play in ensuring the safety and confidence of survivors seeking redress.
Highlighting the global prevalence of violence against women and girls, Madam Abudu noted that adequate resources were essential to combat GBV effectively. She cited data from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2017/2018) indicating alarming rates of domestic and sexual violence in Ghana.
Calling for swift implementation of laws protecting women and girls, the Minister commended Ghana's progress, including the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Victim's Support Unit (DoVVSU), the passage of the Domestic Violence Act, and the creation of the Orange Support Center.
Mr. Javier Gutiérrez, the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, expressed concern about slow progress toward gender equality and emphasized Spain's commitment to women's rights.
He highlighted Spain's reinforced actions, including a €100 million contribution from 2023 to 2025 to organizations promoting women's rights.
Madam Fati Ndiaye, Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator, stressed the importance of strategic partnerships at all levels to advance gender equality and end harmful practices. She urged stakeholders to ensure an effective and culturally appropriate national response to GBV.
Thelma Hayford, Gender Advisor at Oxfam Ghana and Project Manager EU Enough, called for a unified front and knowledge-sharing to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). She likened SGBV to an amoeba, adapting to different contexts to spread havoc.