DOVVSU needs more support - IOM Ghana Chief

The Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana, Madam Sylvia Lopez-Ekra has called for more budgetary support for the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.

Madam Lopez-Ekra said although DOVVSU is doing a remarkable job, it still needs more resources and incentives to enable it to end domestic violence.

"I think DOVVSU is doing a remarkable job because it is very difficult to care for victims who need a lot of support when they come," Madam Lopez-Ekra said on the sidelines of a national walk against gender-based violence.

"There is the immediate assistance that needs to be provided in terms of healthcare, in terms of food, in terms of shelter and later on they need legal aid and psychosocial assistance to reintegrate into society".

She said in order for such support to be sustained, it must be provided for in the national budget with some support from donor partners.

Madam Lopez-Ekra said efforts must be stepped up because violence against women and children continues to be a major issue across the world.

Event

The national walk against gender-based violence started at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, to the Accra Central Market, the Independence Avenue, the Kinbu Road and ended at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The participants carried placards which read: "Women and girls are not slaves", "Stop demanding sex for jobs", "The voices of girls matter", "No means no" and "Enforce laws on sexual harassment".

The Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakaria said the walk was part of a line-up of activities to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Ghana, an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls.

The campaign runs every year from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.