The sensitisation forum, organised by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA–Ghana) under its KASA Project, in partnership with UDS, sought to raise awareness on the various forms of SGBV, reporting mechanisms, survivor protection, and the need for collective action to curb the menace.

The initiative, funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), forms part of activities marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Madam Sherifatu Yakubu, Acting Director of the Centre for Gender and Career Mentorship (CGCAM) at UDS, addressing the students, said combating SGBV required sustained commitment and collective efforts from institutions, communities, and all stakeholders.
She reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to ensuring a violence-free environment for students and staff, noting that CGCAM promoted equality, confidentiality, zero tolerance for gender-based violence, the right to privacy, and protection for survivors.

“We never get tired of advocating and engaging to end SGBV. The Centre remains open to collaborations to address the problem in line with national, local, and University provisions,” she said.

Ms Juliet Wapaare Ako, KASA Project Lead, said the initiative operated in the Tamale and Sagnarigu Metropolitan Areas and the West Mamprusi Municipality in the Northern and North East Regions.
She said the project targeted about 330 direct beneficiaries and an estimated 2,500 indirect beneficiaries, particularly women and girls aspiring to leadership roles or already serving in decision-making positions.

Ms Ako explained that the project aimed to reduce sexual violence against women through strengthened institutional and community-based structures, increase access to support services including judicial and legal responses, and promote youth-led advocacy and movement building.

She expressed concern about the growing incidence of digital SGBV, including online harassment, cyberbullying, image-based abuse, and impersonation, stressing that such acts were rooted in the same inequalities that drove offline violence.
She said this year’s activities were themed: “Building a Safer Online Space for Women and Girls Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence,” and aimed to equip advocates with tools to respond to online abuse, share best practices, and strengthen collective action to protect women and girls in both physical and digital spaces.

Ms Mulaikatu Issah, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Local NUGS Central Women’s Commissioner, commended SWIDA–Ghana and its partners under the KASA Project for the initiative, noting that it would deepen students’ understanding of SGBV and available reporting mechanisms.
She urged students to apply the knowledge gained to help foster safer campus and community environments.