Ghana to mark UN Day for Elimination of Violence

Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - Ghana on Tuesday roll-out commemorative activities to mark the United Nations (UN) Day for Elimination of Violence against Women scheduled for Thursday, November 25. The activities include: 16 Days of Activism Against Violence; Thousand Men's March against Violence Against Women, radio and television talk shows, sensitisation and debate on dangers of violence against women and social impact of violence.

In 1999, the UN General Assembly designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. But Gender advocates have marked the day since 1981. In a statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra signed by the Enslavement Prevention Alliance - West Africa (EPAWA), the convener explained that violence against women and girls have assumed pandemic proportions.

"At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime - with the abuser usually someone known to her," the statement stated. The statement identified Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE), World Vision, Women Mentoring Women Ghana, The Domestic Violence Secretariat of Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of Police (DOVVSU), and UNIFEM as main pusher of the event in the country.

It said the Thousand Men's March scheduled for Saturday, December 4, would be a demonstration of Ghana's broad based approach to combat violence against women in Ghana.

"It is a demonstration that men care about the lives of their mothers, sisters, wives, female colleagues and friends. Without engaging half of the population of our nation, which is largely responsible for violence against women and which occupies many of the political, religious and business leadership positions, this canker cannot be eradicated," the statement added.

Institutions expected to participate in the Thousand Men's March are: Parliamentarians, law enforcement agencies, military, educational institutions, government agencies, media, civil society, youth groups and corporate bodies.

Others are: Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Wisconsin University College, Valley View University, Islamic University College, Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Ghana Red Cross and School of Social Work University of Ghana. 16 Nov. 10