With studies proving that victims of SGBV normally are skeptical about reporting to formal institutions such as the police and health services, these community leaders have been urged to help with education and sensitization at that level.
The Head of Programmes at STAR-Ghana Foundation (SGF), Miss Eunice Racheal Agbenyadzi, at a forum organized by the Foundation to mark this year’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Cape Coast, appealed to the community leaders to drive such discussions.
She said the discussions have reinforced the need to have more of such conversations on how to end SGBV.
“I am extending an invitation to our traditional leaders to help organize such conversations next time so that you will be in the driver’s seat, and we support you. SGF wants to as much as possible see people who are at the core of an issue driving it,” she said.
She also called on the traditional leaders and local authorities to enforce community bye-laws that promote girls’ education and punish violence and abuse of women and girls.
Over the past decade and more, there have been efforts at the national level to respond to challenges faced by women and girls including the different forms of SGBV.
While these efforts have yielded some positive results, the menace persists. The prevalence of SGBV calls for renewed activism, advocacy at various levels, and urgent actions to address the problem.
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