Gender Based Violence; Now a Global Crisis

Gender-based violence against women and children has become a global crisis and has taken a severe toll on the physical, psychological and emotional on women and children.

The above mentioned canker has led to permanent physical injury and scar on victims and in worst cases some battered individuals joining their ancestors prematurely.

Statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service reveal that between 2010 and 2014, 5,794 defilement cases, 1,603 rape cases and 21,299 assault cases were perpetrated against women and girls.

On the other hand, the unit recorded 20 defilement case, 3,556 assault cases and zero rape cases against men.

Ghana as a country has always had laws prohibiting violence. In 1960 , the government of Ghana passed the Criminal Code which is now amended as the Criminal Offences Act.

The Domestic Violence Law was passed in 2007 to further address domestic violence and gender based violence in domestic setting. Although Ghana as a country has all these laws, the reported cases of gender based violence keeps on rising.

However, as part of effort to help address the menace, Women in Law and Development in Africa- Ghana(WiLDAF) in collaboration with OXFAM Ghana is embarking on series activities to commemorate this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender - Based violence.

According to Communication and Advocacy Manager of Women in Law and Development in Africa - Ghana, Patricia Isabella Essel, explained that move is an international campaign aimed at raising public awareness and also mobilize people overwhere to bring about a positive change.

This she said, they selected key global days designed to commemorate international events including including dates such as: November 25, International Day against Violence and Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights.

This is to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.

According to her, the 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence women by:

-Raise awareness about gender -based violence as rights issue at the local , national regional and international levels.

strengthening local work around violence against women

-To establish a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women.

-To provide a forum in which organizers can develope and share new and effective stragies.

-To demonstrate the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence and against women.

And also create tools to pressure governments to implemente promises made to eliminate violence against women.

However, WiLDAF Ghana therefore commended Oxfam Ghana for their financial and technical support.

This year's 16Days Activism Campaign was themed: " From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make education for Safe for All".