Human Rights and Development Services (HURDS) continued the observance of International Human Rights Day with a high-impact outreach at the Kojokrom Market, engaging traders on harmful societal norms and practices that fuel Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Ghana.
The outreach formed part of the Break the Silence Project, with support from GIZ Ghana, and focused on encouraging market users to question, challenge, and reject attitudes and behaviours that normalize violence against women and girls.
At Kojokrom, the focus broadened to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). HURDS staff engaged market women and men through direct conversations, poster displays, and the distribution of informational leaflets to reinforce key messages and serve as reminders beyond the activity. Posters were also mounted at strategic locations within the market to sustain awareness.
The engagement was highly interactive, with market participants asking questions and sharing concerns. HURDS staff provided clear responses, making the session both informative and participatory, while strengthening community understanding of prevention, reporting, and support systems.
HURDS believes that sustained community-level engagements such as this play a critical role in reducing incidents of violence against women and girls and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality.
This outreach marked a powerful climax to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, reaffirming HURDS’ commitment to breaking the silence, driving behavioural change, and building safer communities for all.
