ACTIVISM ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE LAUNCHED IN WA (PAGE 35, DEC 7)

activism on gender-based violence has been marked in Wa in the Upper West Region with a call on all and sundry, particularly men, to reorientate themselves about their perception that women must always succumb to their whims and caprices.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, who launched the event, said violence against women was not only an abuse of the rights of the victims but also inimical to the quest of the majority of the people for peace in the world.
He commended members of the Gender and Women’s Rights Activists Network (GAWNET) for initiating such a forum to discuss issues affecting women.
Mr Khalid also called on the organisers of the programme to take stock of past activities and see where they fell short so they could take it up from there.
“Though there is a global resolve to end violence in any form, it is incumbent on us to constantly prick ourselves about our commitment to this crusade and move beyond the rhetoric to an action-oriented one,” he said.
The regional minister further called on all stakeholders to rededicate themselves to the crusade on violence against women and devote more resources towards the challenge.
On the role of civil society towards pushing the fight to stop all forms of violence against women, Mr Mahmud Khalid cautioned against settling cases of sexual abuse, especially defilement cases, by families.
He advised people to report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
“Similarly women should disabuse their minds that domestic violence is part of marital life; it certainly has no place in the homes,” he emphasised. The regional minister said it was the determination of the Government to come up with policies which promoted gender equality and equity for the vulnerable in both the rural and urban areas.
He added that the Government would pursue and support the training of gender desk officers in the various districts to empower them to continue to champion the cause of women.
A representative of Action Aid Ghana, an international non-governmental organisation, Ms Esther Aboagye, in a solidarity message reiterated the resolve of the organisation to continue to champion the cause of women.
She also urged women not to relent in their efforts but to support all efforts geared towards promoting their welfare to eliminate entirely all forms of violence against them.