UNFPA has noted with concern the story (and video clip) that went viral over the weekend of a young girl who was subjected to violence by her brothers on the instruction of their father for coming home late. While UNFPA does not condemn child discipline, the UNFPA condemns any action which denigrates human dignity and rights. As an organization, that condemns all forms of violence against women and girls, and which upholds the human rights of every individual, especially the adolescent girl, we are saddened by this event and wish to voice our displeasure and denunciation of this, as well as every form of domestic violence.

UNFPA is happy to note the swift action of the Honourable Minister of Gender, Children And Social Protection, Ms Otiko Afisah Djaba,, who has unreservedly condemned this shameful act. We wish to join our voice to hers in calling on the Ghana Police Service and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) to immediately investigate and initiate prosecution as might be necessary. In the same vein, we reiterate her reminder that gender-based violence is an offence and punishable by law, irrespective of whether you are a father, husband, boyfriend, brother, mother or relative.

On our part, we stand ready to continue to work with DOVVSU to train personnel on effective sexual and gender based violence case management and counseling, as a way of supporting police personnel in handing such cases. In addition, a data management system has also been established with the support of UNFPA, to assist government in gathering data on such issues to further strengthen advocacy and programming, to reduce the incidence of domestic violence especially against girls and women.

We want to seize this opportunity to once again recommend the enshrinement of comprehensive sexuality education at all levels, facets and strata of the society, especially for adolescent girls, as a way of stemming the tide of gender-based violence. We will shortly be launching and commencing the implementation of a project (graciously funded by the Government of Canada) that addresses  issues facing adolescent girls and includes increasing  knowledge on sexual, gender and all forms of domestic violence

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