The Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO) recently engaged over 120 members of the Anglican Mothers Union from Binaba Ach Deaconry in the Bawku West District, Upper East Region, in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) aimed at raising awareness about the issue and advocating for change.
This initiative focuses on empowering the Anglican mothers to become key advocates against GBV within their families, congregations, and communities. It also aims to equip them with the tools to raise awareness in churches, advocate for stronger law enforcement, and ensure that perpetrators of violence are held accountable.
The event is part of ADDRO’s Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) initiatives, funded by Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) in the United States. The 16 Days of Activism is a global campaign led by civil society organizations under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), starting on November 25 and concluding on December 10, Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence against Women and Girls.”
In her address to the Anglican mothers, Madam Rebecca Lariba Seidu, Gender Officer at ADDRO, highlighted that while many countries have passed laws to combat violence against women, weak enforcement and ingrained social norms remain significant obstacles. Globally, one in three women, or an estimated 736 million, have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner or non-partner at least once in their lifetime. In Ghana, about 24.4% of women aged 15 to 49 have encountered intimate partner violence at some point.
Madam Seidu urged the mothers to prioritize the education of their daughters and foster harmonious relationships with their partners, creating an environment that supports their children’s aspirations and well-being.
Reverend Father Awini Cletus Adongo, Chaplain of the Women’s Ministry at Binaba Anglican Ach Deaconry, emphasized the moral responsibility of faith leaders to act justly and protect the vulnerable. He encouraged the mothers to be models of integrity and excellence within their households, strengthening their relationship with God through their actions.
Mr. Joseph Agbango, District Gender Officer for Bawku West, spoke about the various forms of GBV, including physical, sexual, psychological, spiritual, and economic violence. He urged the Anglican mothers to ensure that neither they nor their daughters experience any form of violence and to engage their partners in the fight to end GBV. He also encouraged them to keep their daughters in school to help break the cycle of violence.
