The Network for Women’s Rights and Environmental Governance (NEWREG), a coalition of 14 women’s associations, has intensified its advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in mining communities in Ghana.
As part of the campaign, NEWREG, led by its Convener, Shirley Yaa Twenewaa, organised a sensitisation forum at Bibiani in the Western North Region to educate women and girls on recognising, resisting and reporting sexual violence, with support from the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF).
The forum also brought together traditional leaders, state agencies, mining stakeholders and school girls to promote stronger community protection systems and preventive measures against SGBV. Some of the schools that benefited from the program were Catholic ‘B’ Junior High School, SDA Junior High School and Anglican Junior High School.
Addressing participants, Bibiani Divisional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Evelyn A. Yitamkey, said SGBV covered harmful acts perpetrated against individuals based on gender, including sexual, physical, emotional, psychological and economic abuse.
She identified defilement, rape, sexual harassment, child marriage, exploitation, trafficking and domestic violence among the cases commonly reported to the police.
ASP Yitamkey said girls were particularly vulnerable to SGBV due to peer pressure, economic hardship, abuse of trust and authority, and inadequate knowledge of their rights.
She urged participants to set personal boundaries, avoid secret meetings with adults, exercise caution in online interactions and report suspicious advances to trusted adults, parents, teachers or the police.
She further warned that SGBV could result in trauma, emotional distress, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, low self-esteem and loss of educational and economic opportunities.
ASP Yitamkey advised victims and persons at risk to report incidents promptly and seek medical attention where necessary
