Ghana with support from UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) has launched the “Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence” at a three-day workshop in Accra.

The essential services packages comprise of five independent modules namely; Overview and introduction, Essential Health-related services, Essential services related to justice and police, Essential services related to social services and Essential Actions for Coordination and Governance of coordination.

The main objective of the workshop is to strengthen the capacity of some key professionals and staff of UN agencies to improve the effectiveness of the multi-sectorial response to Gender-based Violence.

Welcoming the participants, UNFPA Deputy Representative, Erika Goldson stated that although, there have been many commitments to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls, it still remains pervasive in every society. She emphasized that “women’s lack of access to services for safety and protection is a serious form of discrimination”.

Hence the need for the Essential Services Package to ensure that every victim of violence have prompt access to the full range of services of the package including; sexual and reproductive health services, support to ensure mental and physical health, wellbeing, safety and access to justice.

Ms Ann Claire Dufay UNICEF Representative and acting Resident Coordinator led the launch of the Essential Service Package. She urged all stakeholders to coordinate effectively to ensure that there is a solid protection system for women, girls and children alongside adequate data and proper case management approaches. Commending UNFPA’s effort, she said this is an opportunity for service providers to reflect and strategize to work very effectively.

Ms. Malonin Asibi, of the Domestic Violence Secretariat said Ghana’s lack of shelter for victims and survivors of domestic violence is a challenge in terms of service delivery. She hopes the workshop will empower service providers to have a suitable means of responding to cases of violence.

The first day of the workshop saw presentations on various topics such as; violence against women/gender-based-violence, overview of SGBV situation in Ghana, national policy and plan of action of the Domestic violence Act.

Service delivery guidelines have been identified for the basic elements of each essential service, with a view to ensuring the provision of quality services for women and girls who are subjected to violence, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Some participants indicated that at the end of the workshop they want to understand better the Essential service package for women and girls, national response to SGBV, learn how to have an effective coordinated approach to assist survivors of gender-based violence among others.

UNFPA is committed to providing technical assistance under a multi-sectoral framework to ensure that victims and survivors of violence receive quality services that addresses their needs.

Participants are identified individuals, various stakeholders and institutions working to achieve gender equality as well as providing support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.