The Human Rights and Development Services, (HURDS) with support from GIZ under the Support to Human Rights, Gender Equality and Civil Society- S(HE) Project has launched the Break the Silence project to prompt social reflection on the impact of Sexual and Gender- Based Violence (SGBV) and Discrimination in the Western Region
Break the Silence is a campaign to empower communities to break the culture of silence on Sexual and Gender Based Violence and transform harmful societal norms into positive norms in the Western and Central Regions.
Ms. Eva Ankrah, the Executive Director of HURDS during an inception meeting, said the initiative aims to create a platform and set the tone for critical reflections among traditional leaders, religious authorities, state institutions and the general public, with the goal of transforming harmful traditional norms and practices that perpetuate violence against women, girls, and Persons with Disabilities.
She added that although the 1992 Constitution guarantees practice of one’s religious and traditional beliefs, those norms and practices should not be injurious and inhumane
She therefore called on the National House of chiefs to exercise their powers as provided in Section 3(c) of the Chieftaincy Act,2008 to modify practices that drives Discrimination and perpetuate Violence against Women and Girls.
The project is a local subsidy under the GIZ Project, Support for Human Rights, Gender Equality and Civil Society Project and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The inception meeting brought together key stakeholders, with the aim of co-creating impactful messages as well as securing their buy-ins to support the project implementation.
Ms. Maribel Okine, the Western Regional Director for Gender noted the need to harness the power of collective action to address Discrimination and SGBV.
Together, let’s amplify the voices of women, girls and vulnerable groups, promote their rights, and create a brighter future for everyone,” she added.