The United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA) Country Representative Dr. David Wilfred Ochan has called for action research on gender-based violence (GBV) in the transport sector.
This will guide decision-making bodies on the issue. He said women and girls faced unique risks to GBV, including harassment, assault, trafficking and exploitation when travelling, yet a lot of these are not made public. Dr Ochan was speaking at the launch of “16 routes, 16 stations: Transport Unions unite against gender-based violence’, in Accra. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the international Day for the elimination of violence against women. The day is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.The program was organized by UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. According to Dr. Ochan, GBV perpetuates inequality and discrimination and affects not only individuals but also families, communities, and societies.
Dr. Ochan said public transport serves as an essential lifeline for millions of people, connecting communities and bridging distances, thus the innovative social drive to galvanize support against GBV from transport operators and users in the country. He said the transport system is operated mostly by men and called on them to act as agents of change. “Change the course of GBV by adopting respectful and violence-free practices while championing the campaign to reach other men and boys” he added.
He charged all to join in this vital mission to raise awareness and mobilize action against GBV by using the hashtag #JoinTheBuStopTheViolence. Dr Ochan called for more actions from policymakers, transport operators, and community leaders against GBV. He urged all to stand in solidarity with survivors, challenge harmful norms, and commit to long-term efforts to end GBV in the country.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Ms Dakoa Newman was not happy that despite the numerous stakeholder programs and interventions, women and girls were still experiencing domestic violence. She said the report from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey indicates that 21.7 percent of women experience domestic violence while 38.2 percent of adolescent
girls aged 15-19 have suffered sexual violence.
Ms. Newman called on all to ensure a future free of violence for women and girls. The General Secretary, of Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) Godfrey Abugiri, said GBV is one of the most glaring human rights violations and urged all to help end it. He pledged GPRTU commitment and resolved to raise awareness and combat GBV across all the transport terminals.
BY GERTRUDE EUNICE MAASODONG