The Eastern Regional Coordinator of Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, DOVVSU, Chief Superintendent, Mrs. Florence Anaman has revealed that the issue of Physical Assault is the leading reported case of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cases in the region with six hundred and one cases reported from 2023 to the first quarter of 2024.
This, she said was followed by 405 cases of non-maintenance of a child, 215 cases of threat of harm, 193 reported cases of death threat, emotional abuse cases of 172 and 92 reported cases of defilement.
Chief Superintendent Anaman revealed this during a two-day training workshop for selected stakeholders who provide essential services to victims of sexual and gender based violence in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
The training workshop organized by the Department of Gender with support from UNFPA under the auspices of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council aimed to provide greater access to a coordinated set of essential and quality multi-sectorial services for all women and girls who have experienced or suffered Gender Based Violence, GBV in the region.
It was also revealed during the training that Ghanaian women face barriers in reporting violence issues as a result of cultural beliefs that domestic and sexual violence is a private matter that should be addressed outside the criminal justice system.
It also came out that 33 to 37 percent of women in Ghana have experienced intimate partner violence in the course of their relationship which includes physical, sexual, and emotional violence. In Ghanaian schools, it was also discovered that 14 percent of girls are victims of sexual abuse and 52 percent have experienced Gender-Based Violence. These numbers are likely understated, as girls tend not to report crimes of GBV for fear of reprisal.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong hinted that appreciating and understanding the essential services package is critical to ensure comprehensive women and children centered response to sexual and gender based violence.
He noted that it is against this background that such a workshop for selected stakeholders is important as it has brought together stakeholders in the Essential Services Package Providers value chain to enhance stakeholder’s capacity through multi-disciplinary and cross-agency approach for responding to violence against women and girls.
A Principal State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Victoria Asieduwaa reiterated that a quality police and justice response is crucial in ensuring that relevant laws against gender-based violence victims that meet international standards are enforced.
She emphasised the need to keep women and girls safe from such violence, including the occurrence of further violence by holding perpetrators accountable.
Madam Asieduwaa further stressed the need to ensure that GBV cases are investigated in an unbiased and truth-seeking manner that support fair and accurate decision in the criminal justice system.
The Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Madam Juliana Abbey-Quaye noted that the workshop is to empower women and girls to report issues of GBV to appropriate authorities, to make services available and accessible to women and girls who have suffered issues of gender-based violence.
She opined that the workshop is also to make stakeholders realize their roles in combating sexual and gender-based violence in the region.
