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WOM employs a community-led approach to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Upper East Region

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The Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), a Non-Profit Organization has adopted a community-led approach to curb Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the Upper East Region.

The approach, known as Community Based Anti-Violence Teams (COMBATs) is made up of volunteers from the Nabdam and Talensi districts who were trained by WOM with support from ActionAid Ghana (AAG) to offer advocacy role and to help arbitrate between minor cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at the community level.

At a forum held in Bolgatanga, organized by the WOM and AAG to learn and share gains made, Abugre Asungrede-ani Bentil, a facilitator with COMBAT in the Pwalugu community said the introduction of the group has helped in reducing SGBV in the community.

“COMBAT has come as a big savior to the people of Pwalugu. The community has a police station but victims always feel shy to report their partners to the police. But they are now comfortable discussing issues they go through with us and we have been able to settle many family disputes.”

Another facilitator, Adeema Apana from Tongo-Beo community underscored the importance of the group saying “spouses in the community are now living in harmony”.

Hamidu Mohammed Amin, the Upper East Regional Programs Head of Community Care at the Department of Social Welfare expressed regret that his outfit continues to record weekly cases of SGBV even though the country’s laws frown on it.

Mr. Amin disclosed that women constitute about 90 percent of the cases recorded. Even though some men suffer abuses from their partners, he said only few report to his department for redress, the rest harbor the pain in them which sometimes leads to retaliation.

Principal Investigator at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Edmond Alagpulinsa has therefore called on victims, regardless of gender to report to the appropriate quarters for action taken when they are abused.

The Project Officer at WOM, Patricia Ayichuru reiterated her outfit’s commitment to offer the needed support to the COMBATs and the vulnerable in society to reduce the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the region.

Ms. Ayichuru has therefore called for a concerted effort from stakeholders towards eliminating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the country.

Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah

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