Mahama will create a national hotline to address gender-based violence

Addressing gender-based violence is crucial for promoting gender equality, protecting human rights, and creating a safe and inclusive society. Here are some key reasons why it is important to address gender-based violence:

Human Rights: Gender-based violence violates the fundamental human rights of individuals, particularly women and girls. Everyone has the right to live free from violence and discrimination, and addressing gender-based violence is essential for upholding these rights.

Gender Equality: Gender-based violence is a manifestation of gender inequality and reinforces harmful stereotypes and power imbalances between men and women. By addressing gender-based violence, we can work towards achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls to fully participate in society.

Public Health: Gender-based violence has serious physical, mental, and emotional health consequences for survivors. Addressing gender-based violence is essential for promoting public health and well-being, as it can help to prevent injuries, trauma, and long-term health issues associated with violence.

Economic Empowerment: Gender-based violence can have a significant impact on the economic empowerment of individuals, particularly women who may face barriers to education, employment, and financial independence as a result of violence. By addressing gender-based violence, we can support survivors in accessing resources and opportunities to achieve economic security.

Social Justice: Gender-based violence is a social justice issue that affects individuals across all communities and backgrounds. Addressing gender-based violence is essential for promoting social justice, challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours, and creating a more just and equitable society for all.

Consequently, addressing gender-based violence is essential for promoting human rights, gender equality, public health, economic empowerment, and social justice. It requires a comprehensive and coordinated response from government, civil society organisations, and communities to prevent violence, support survivors, and create a culture of respect and equality for all.

Creating a national hotline to address gender-based violence in Ghana as promised by the 2024 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, H.E. John Dramani Mahama is a significant step towards addressing this critical issue.

Gender-based violence is a pervasive problem that affects individuals across all socio-economic backgrounds, and having a dedicated hotline can provide a safe and confidential space for survivors to seek help and support.

By establishing a national hotline, individuals who have experienced gender-based violence can access immediate assistance, information, and resources. This can help to ensure that survivors receive the necessary support services, such as counseling, legal assistance, and medical care, to address their needs and promote their well-being.

Additionally, a national hotline can serve as a vital tool for raising awareness about gender-based violence, educating the public about the issue, and encouraging individuals to speak out against violence and abuse. It can also help to facilitate reporting of incidents of gender-based violence, leading to improved data collection and monitoring of the prevalence of such violence in Ghana.

In all, Mahama's idea of establishing a national hotline to address gender-based violence in Ghana if elected the next president of the Republic demonstrates his commitment to promoting gender equality, protecting the rights of women and girls, and creating a safer and more inclusive society for all. It is a proactive and essential initiative that can contribute to the prevention and response to gender-based violence in the country.

Anthony Obeng Afrane