Media asked to help end sexual violence

Madam Dela Sowah, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection has called on the media to partner the Ministry in ending sexual and gender-based violence.

She described the media as key stakeholder in socialization and underscored the need for practitioners to help end sexual and gender-based abuse in society.

Madam Sowah was addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day media dialogue on sexual and gender-based violence in Ho under the auspices of her Ministry.

She said though Ghana is a signatory to many international protocols and treaties, sexual and gender-based violence was on the increase necessitating concerted efforts of all stakeholders.

Madam Sowah said the Ministry was collaborating with the Police and the Judiciary to fast-track prosecution of cases in the law courts.

Ms Comfort Ablormeti, Volta Regional Director, Department of Women, asked the media not to only report cases but do follow ups.

Ms Hilary Gbedemah, Ghana’s Representative to United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), urged the media to desist from using sexual and gender-based stories as entertainment.

Mrs Charity Binka, a Women and Media Expert, urged media practitioners to be advocates of the rights of victims of sexual and gender-based violence.