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A senior Gender Specialist, UN Women, Afua Ansre, has said that religious and cultural leaders are key to shifting social norms and driving the critical change needed to end gender-based violence.
A life free from the fear and experience of violence is a social and economic imperative. We owe it to ourselves and our communities to ensure that we eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls," she noted.
She added that dignity, sanctity of life and fairness are values enshrined in many religious and community doctrines, including those that Ghanaians and Africans ascribe to, hence the need to help ourselves to stop the cycle.
"Gender-based violence, in all its forms, violates human principles, and if we value the safety of our community members, if we believe what human beings carry in them, the essence of God, then we must stand squarely against gender-based violence," she said.
Ms Ansre was speaking at a consultation conference with cultural and faith leaders in the country to examine their role in addressing human rights violations. Held in Accra on Monday, the consultation was geared towards listening and learning from their experiences in tackling the challenge of violence against women and girls.
The event brought together religious leaders, traditional leaders, gender enthusiasts, lawyers, representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and students, among others.
For his part, the Resident Representative of UNFPA, Dr Wilfred Ochan, stated that the continuing violence against women clearly demonstrated the need for a greater understanding of masculinity.
“This intersects with notions of what it means to be a female as social norms and practices that give rise to some of these abuses are accepted as normal,” he said.
He continued that women and girls were very critical to the existence of society and the sustenance of communities. “Critically assessing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from poverty, right through to partnerships, you will find the relevance of women throughout.
However, we know that women continue to face challenges and, in fact, since the COVID time, some of the gains made on gender equality and women empowerment have been reversed. This calls for some quick and definite actions before we can advance again,” he noted.
