300 Women in fisheries sensitised on SGBV

More than 300 women in the fisheries have been sensitised to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as part of activities to mark 16 days of activism against SGBV at Komenda in the Central Region.

They were drawn from fishing communities across the region and educated on sexual and gender-based violence and the need to report perpetrators to appropriate agencies for redress.

The programme was organised by the Central Western Fishmongers Improvement Association (CEWEFIA) and Hen Mpoano, both non-governmental organisations, with support from the European Union (EU) for women from fishing communities in the Central Region.

The forum, which also attracted dozens of men, was part of the Women in Fisheries Against Violence (WiFVEs) project, which sought to advocate against gender-based violence, abuse and discrimination against women while strengthening the capacity of fisherfolks and community leaders to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The forum was also in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Violence against Women on the theme "Towards Beijing+30: Unite to end violence against women and Girls”. 

Be bold, report SGBV

The Central Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Richlove Amamoo, said women must be bold to report incidents of GBV in their communities to ensure perpetrators were brought to book to deter others.

"Report incidence of gender-based violence to the police and let them prosecute offenders. If you report GBV happening in your communities and one or two people are prosecuted and guilty perpetrators are jailed, it will deter others," she stated.

The Project Manager and Gender Inclusion officer, Josephine Opare Addo, said the WiFVEs project worked with 18 fishing communities in the Central and Western regions.

The communities in the Central Region included Dago, Mumford, Aakrah, Narkwah, Otuam, Anomabo, Biriwa, Dutch Komenda and British Komenda.

The Central Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Nana Damoah, said women, particularly in the fisheries, must be conscious and take steps to protect themselves from abusive relationships.

He urged women to work hard and be economically independent to break away from abusive partners.

The Head of Programmes at CEWEFIA, Nicholas Smith, said the contribution of women to the fisheries sector and the economy, in general, could not be underrated and urged institutions and individuals to work together to promote the well-being of women, particularly in the fisheries.