ProNet North, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operating in the Upper West Region has set up a regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) Network in the Upper West Region.
At a stakeholder forum to establish the network on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, the Head of Programmes at ProNet North, Madam Catherine Amissah, said the forum was to bring together both state and non-state actors in the SGBV advocacy line to chart a way for its mitigation through collective means.
She said it would help the organizations and institutions to fine-tune and unite their efforts.
Madam Catherine noted that there were some challenges in the deliverance of justice to SGBV victims. She cited the situation whereby a sexually abused victim has to pay for medical examination reports in order to get justice.
She said the payment is a disincentive and a disadvantage to the victims in their quest to pursue justice.
Madam Amissah further called for close collaboration from the side of the government and its agencies towards the fight against gender-based and related sexual violence.
She said sometimes the victims require certain essential counseling, medical and other services that the government can make accessible to the victims.
She added that going into the future with the SGBV network, they would be able to identify some loopholes in the system and work towards addressing them.
Speaking also to Info Radio, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Madam Charity Batuure, said setting up of an SGBV network in the region was long-awaited and that “now that it is happening, it is a step to collectively ending SGBV.”
She hinted that a national stakeholder forum of similar nature was held earlier intended to establish regional SGBV networks and thus, commended ProNet North for leading the way.
Madam Batuure called on SGBV victims to speak up for justice to be delivered to them when they are victimized.
She however expressed concerns that victims often do not receive justice because of family solidarity and ethnic considerations saying, it has not always helped the system.
She thus, admonished families to use the “Ti Gyaa Bunyeni” – we are one people – mantra to the common good of society and not to deny justice.
The forum was attended by representatives of Government Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), religious leaders, traditional authorities, and the media.
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