Violence Against Women
Source: GNA
The Enslavement Prevention Alliance-West Africa (EPAWA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has urged men, especially those in leadership positions to collaborate with women, and other key stakeholders to fight against women-based violence in the country.
The EPAWA said it had recognised that men and leaders had an important role to play in stopping gender-based violence, and acting as role models for other men.
Mr Abdul-Razak Yakubu, Programmes Director of the NGO, made the call at the second annual Men's March for eliminating violence against women, in Accra.
The march was to create awareness among men so that they could publicly commit themselves to work in active solidarity with women, Government and NGOs committed to ending gender-based violence in Ghana.
"When we talk about gender-based violence, we generally focus on women and children. The march, therefore, wants to change that and bring the spotlight on men, not as violators, and abusers, but as protectors and eradicators," he stated.
Mr Yakubu said the country had experienced pervasive gender violence including sexual violence, rape, incest, domestic violence and child marriages, which had affected the country to a large extent and leaving some of the victims without justice.
"As men, we recognise that violence against women and girls affect men as well as women. It affects the family, community and the nation. We call upon other men and leaders to publicly speak out, and join in this global call to protect Ghanaian women and children from all types of gender based violence," he said.