Cape coast: The Central Regional Gender Department has intensified efforts to eliminate Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in communities by empowering the youth to champion the campaign against abuse and harmful practices.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative is aimed at promoting awareness and behavioural change by engaging young people as advocates to educate their peers and community members on the effects of SGBV and the importance of upholding the rights of women and children. During a youth engagement forum at Brabedzi in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Madam Richlove Amamoo, Head of the Department of Gender, emphasized the critical role of youth in the fight against gender-based violence, highlighting their potential as a significant force for social transformation. She noted that domestic violence, sexual abuse, and harmful cultural practices often persist due to silence, fear, and inadequate education, and that empowering the youth with knowledge and advocacy skills would help address these challenges at the grassroots level.
Madam Amamoo remarked, 'The youth are agents of change. When they are well-informed and empowered, they can influence attitudes, challenge harmful norms, and help create safer communities free from violence and abuse.' She added that the Department's efforts are part of broader measures to educate citizens on the detrimental effects of gender-based violence, promote gender equality, and encourage victims to report abuse for support and justice. She also pointed out that many victims remain silent due to fear, stigma, and a lack of knowledge about available support systems, underscoring the need to take the campaign directly to communities to bridge the information gap.
She further stated, 'The fight against gender-based violence cannot be won from the offices alone. We must engage people at the grassroots, educate families, and empower communities to speak against all forms of abuse.' Participants at the forum praised the Department for the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary for promoting peaceful homes and safer communities. Mr. Moses Bedu, a community leader, pledged support in addressing harmful cultural practices and ensuring that perpetrators of abuse are reported to the appropriate authorities.
The Gender Department affirmed its commitment to continue collaborating with stakeholders, including civil society organizations and local assemblies, to sustain education and advocacy efforts aimed at eliminating gender-based violence in the country.