DFID reiterates its commitment to eradicate violence against women

By
Iddi Yire, RNG

Accra, April 18, GNA –
The United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) has
reiterated its commitment to becoming a world leader in efforts to eradicate
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) in all its forms.

Ms. Enyonam Azumah,
Deputy Head of the DFID Ghana Social Sector Team, said that the eradication of the VAWG was
key to the organization's new strategic vision on gender equality.

She said strangers
Special Envoy for Gender Equality of the Commonwealth Office (FCO) had
commitment to a foreign policy focused on three themes to achieve
gender equality – equal, secure and empowered.

She said the
commitment to ensuring that all are equal, secure and empowered, in accordance with
The vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to create a Ghana where all
citizens were able to participate actively and contribute to the
socio-economic development of the country to create an autonomous and
Ghana thrives Beyond help.

Ms. Azumah said this
in Accra during a stakeholder outreach workshop entitled "What works for
Prevent VAWG – Economic and Social Costs of Violence Against Women and
Girls. "

She said the violence
Against women and girls in all parts of the world and in all societies
and remains one of the most widespread and systematic violations of human rights
on a global scale.

She noted that
research has shown that one in three women had been victims of violence during their lifetime
the perpetrators are usually members of the family.

Ms. Azumah told women
were primarily victims of spousal violence at a rate of
about five times more than men.

She said for the kids
exposed to IPV, the long-term consequences for health and society were similar to those
those of child abuse and neglect.

The work of DFID
generally provides support to women's rights organizations; s' attack at the
attitudes that normalize violent behavior; and gets full services to
survivours.

She also said
ensured that national legislation and policies are in place and implemented.

"We drive rigorously
research to produce evidence about what works to prevent VAWG. "

Ms. Azumah said that
Study shows that domestic violence affects the entire community
and was not contained in the four walls of the house, adding that: "No
such an badysis has already been done in Ghana, or even elsewhere in the world.
West Africa ".

She said the impact of
Ghana's study could be important to open new paths in understanding
the impact of the working group, such as on the physical and mental health of individuals,
cohesion, economic stability and development in order to provide
additional evidence for the government to accelerate its efforts to attack the VAWG.

"Failure to
The elimination of VAWG is a quagmire for the national economy and for the inclusion of men.
development. The government has a strong incentive to invest and
other stakeholders to tackle VAWG, the cost of inaction being
significant, "said Ms. Azumah.

Ms. Malonin Asibi,
the Director of the Family Violence Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender,
Children and Social Protection, said: "The VAWG compromises the quality of life of
families and the well-being of children, which has long-term consequences for
our social life ".

Professor Felix
Asante, Director of ISSER at the University of Ghana and Project Co-Director
Investigator, said, "This research highlights the importance of understanding
the economic impact of violence against women and its serious consequences for
the economy in general. "

Dr. Nata Duvvury, the
National University of Ireland, Galway and Principal Investigator
"The research is based in simple terms on the heavy burden the VAWG places on
economic activity in any country. "

At the event, a study
report of the Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the
the University of Ghana nicknamed: "The Economic and Social Costs of VAWG in
Ghana "was launched by Ms. Asibi.

The project, funded by
DFID is part of its global program "What Works to Prevent VAWG",
found that violence against women placed a heavy burden on women and
Their families.

In addition to Ghana, DFID
also funds similar research projects in Pakistan and South Sudan
(2014-2019).

GNA