Why #16DAYS Against Gender-Based Violence Matters - A statement by the UN Gender Team in Ghana

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence activities start on 25 November and ends on 10 December, under the theme: "Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!".  Globally, series of activities are planned to make the strongest call ever to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women including the United Nation’s Secretary-General campaign – Unite to end violence against women.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), described as the shadow pandemic, occurs worldwide. It is estimated that one in three women experience either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Facts and figures provided by the UN Women, show that 35 per cent of women have ever experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, or sexual violence by a non-partner and this figure does not include sexual harassment. Further, it is estimated that of the 87,000 women who were intentionally killed in 2017 globally, more than half (50,000) were killed by intimate partners or family members. This is alarming. 

According to UN Women this is one of the world’s most prevalent human rights violations, which has serious short- and long-term physical, economic and psychological consequences on the victims. It prevents their full and equal participation in society. The magnitude of its impact, both in the lives of individuals and families and society, is immeasurable.

The local context reflects the Global situation. According to the Ghana 2016 survey on domestic violence, 27.7% of Ghanaian women had experienced at least one form of domestic violence (physical, economic, psychological, social, and sexual violence). In addition, the survey shows that 38.2% of women aged 15-19, 40.4% of women aged 20-24, and 38.3% of women aged 30–39 reported having experienced at least one act of sexual violence. Further, the UN women global database reports that lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in Ghana for this year stands at 24 % and physical and sexual intimate partner violence in the last 12months is 19%.

In the face of these statistics, research supports the fact that women and girls are likely to experience up to 3.7 times more domestic violence in crisis situations such as in health pandemics than at other times. This is because disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19, affect women and men differently and exacerbate prevailing gendered inequalities and vulnerabilities, increasing the risks of abuse. During pandemics, women and girls are at higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence and other forms of domestic violence due to heightened tensions in the household. In the case of COVID-19, SGBV has even been referred to as the ‘shadow pandemic and the repercussions have been serious in many settings.  In the recently UNFPA-supported reporting system following the commencement of the pandemic in Ghana, over 4,000 cases were logged and reported to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) between March and May 2020. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The most vulnerable are those who are poor, marginalized, non-literate, unemployed and those with disabilities, among others. These segments of the population are likely to suffer the most due to existing inequalities, including, dependence on intimate partners for financial support with its resultant risks for exploitation, inadequate information on the pandemic, and challenges in accessing well integrated, affordable and quality SGBV response services, largely as a result of limited coordination and availability of referral mechanisms.

The indicators above reveal that gender-based violence is a serious cancer that must be given all the needed attention for its elimination from our societies and the world.

UN Gender Team Call to Action

Ghana has robust policies and laws and is also a signatory to international and regional human rights frameworks that aim to prevent and respond to SGBV; The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) community and partners are also making numerous efforts to create awareness on the issues of SGBV in coordination with the national gender architecture. However, the needed progress is yet to be realized. On this occasion of the global commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the United Nations System in Ghana calls on stakeholders to rally around the global theme to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls.  It is important that we organize, brainstorm, build synergies, form partnerships and work together to ensure that:

1. We stand with survivors of SGBV
2. We speak up and do not be bystanders
3. Increase resource allocation for addressing SGBV
4. Improve services to survivors of violence including psycho-social support
5. Prosecute offenders and perpetrators of violence
6. Strengthen the implementation of existing laws related to SGBV
7. Improve coordination among stakeholders to respond to SGBV
8.  Increase the knowledge and build the capacity of essential service providers to improve service delivery
9. Expand the existing referral mechanisms
10. Amplify the voice and participation of women in contributing to and advocating for change at both national and sub-national levels and
11. Embark on awareness raising via mass media, social media platforms, traditional and faith-based institutions

The UN system pledges its support to the people of Ghana and stands ready to support national efforts to address SGBV in all its forms.