Ghana’s Catholic Gender Specialists Urge Strengthening Response to Gender-Based Violence

“(The) government with its development partners should strengthen and resource the decentralized Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) offices personnel,” Dr. Idrissu, a Sociologist further said.

To achieve the target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that amount to “eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation,” she underscored the need for collaboration between stakeholders.

In her considered view, Ghana’s government needs to work with partners to ensure that referral systems are in place to facilitate survivors’ access to health services, psychosocial support, safety and security, justice and legal aid; and socio-economic support.

“Government, donor agencies, Non-governmental Organization, Civil Society Organizations and Church Based Organizations and all Human Rights and Gender Activists programs should also focus on preventing and mitigating risks for women and girls, and meeting their unique needs,” Dr. Idrissu said.

Further, the parishioner of Holy Rosary Parish at Adenta of Accra Archdiocese encouraged routine training of police personnel, prosecutors and social workers on human rights standards in the investigation and prosecution of GBV and sexual violence cases.

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With the leadership of the UN observing that gender violence has increased during the COVID-19 lockdown, a phenomenon dubbed “shadow pandemic,” Dr. Idrissu calls on Ghana’s government to bridge funding gaps to ensure that essential services for survivors of violence are maintained during the pandemic.

On her part, the Director of the Directorate for Prevention of Domestic Violence (DPDV) of Ghana’s Kumasi Archdiocese, Sr. Olivia Umoh has called for members of the society to collaborate with the government in helping GBV victims.

“Churches and Mosques and traditional leaders have to also help to address such domestic issues as violence in the home,” Sr. Olivia told ACI Africa correspondent.

That is why, the member of the Daughters of Charity (DC) says, “The Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi has set up the Directorate for Prevention of Domestic Violence in the Archdiocese and mandate a team of trained personnel to train others and to work to eliminate domestic violence in Catholic families and the community at large.”

The Nigerian-born Nun notes that despite the government's establishment of DOVVSU, many victims do not report such violence.

“Families and neighbors have a duty to help victims of domestic violence report cases,” Sr. Olivia said, adding, “Violence against Women and Girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations that remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.”

Violence against women continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights, she told ACI Africa correspondent November 24, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Based on the 1960 assassination of the three Mirabal Sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women calls for an end to violence against women and girls.

This year’s event is being marked under the theme, “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”

The November 25 event also marks the start of the 16 days of Activism against gender-based violence that will conclude on the International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2020.

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