A non-governmental organisation, Act for Change, with support from the United Nations Population Agency (UNFPA), has organised another “Men’s March for Women’s Rights.”
The march was held on Sunday, December 10, 2023, to raise awareness of SGBV and harmful practices.
The walk forms part of the activities of its project, Transforming Men Movement, which held the first edition of the annual “Men’s March for Women’s Rights.”
The walk was combined with flash performances, which highlighted gender-based violence and its negative effects.
The march was organised to raise awareness against sexual and gender-based violence, especially intimate partner violence, domestic violence, rape, and defilement.
It forms part of the 16 Days of Action against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), a global campaign commemorated every year from November 25 to December 10.
The participants, wielding placards with different inscriptions, marched through some streets in Korle-Gonno, Chorkor, and Mamprobi, among others.
The National Programme Assistant at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Faisal Bawa, commended the NGO for embarking on this project.
He noted that one of their pillars is to end gender-based violence, and so when Act for Change wrote to them for support, the outfit thought it wise to support them.
He said it was important for them to support men and boys as they embark on this march.
He indicated that it was important for men and boys to be allies in ending GBV.
It was important to raise awareness, get men to be champions and speak against GBV, speak against violence against women and girls, and also look at violence that also affects men.
He stressed the need for victims of abuse to speak up and seek help.
Mr. Bawa, who participated in the march, was impressed at the level of engagement from the communities visited.
“We liked the focus and the communities visited because there are several issues of abuse, including rape, defilement, child marriage, and violence against women and girls, and these are issues we want to take to the communities and raise awareness about them.”
Mr. Bawa added that in terms of violence against women, the UNFPA is working to reduce the statistics, adding that in terms of child marriage, the figures are also reducing.
He, however, lamented that teenage pregnancy was still high across the country, and UNFPA is putting in measures with other stakeholders to help reduce it.
“I also believe that with support from the Ministry of Gender and other partners, we have set up the Orange Support Centre, where people can call for service.
Aside from that, the UNFPA, with support from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, set up the One Stop Shop, where abusers, women and men, can go and receive support.
In an interview with the media, Act for Change Programmes Manager Samuel Lamptey stated that the Transforming Men Movement project is intended to mobilise and engage men and boys in local communities to challenge societal norms and patriarchal systems and support women in the fight for a just society in which all women and girls have access to quality reproductive health services and advocate for equal opportunities for both men and women.
AFC will continue to collaborate with other partners and stakeholders to end discrimination and abuse against all people, including women, he added.
The organisation is collaborating with men to combat violence against women and girls, promote positive masculinity, and explore the ideals of fatherhood and caregiving.
About AFC
Act for Change uses forums, popular theatre, and other participatory methods to advocate for social issues affecting the most vulnerable in communities.
The core working areas are gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth empowerment, arts and culture, water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Its mission is to effect behaviour change and improve the quality of life using the tool of forum theatre to communicate social developmental concerns.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
