Suhum (E/R), Nov 25, GNA - The Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, has launched the 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence in the country at Suhum. The theme for the celebration is "Women speak peace, end gender based violence now."

Speaking at the launch Mrs Azumah-Mensah said women over the years had fought "shoulder to shoulder" with their male counterparts to gain recognition and freedom from all forms of discrimination. She said despite the efforts of women, the forces that militate against their development seemed to be overwhelming. Mrs Azumah-Mensah said challenges to the development of women in Ghana is embodied in social, cultural, economic and political discrimination coupled with blunt human rights violation, intimidation and violence. Mrs Azumah-Mensah said during the 16 days celebrations, her ministry would organize activities, especially on the land mark days and invite defenders of women human rights to speak at such forums.

In a goodwill message read on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Ms Anna Bossman, she called for "increase in the voices of women" in decision making by the appointment of more women to leadership positions from the communities to the global level. The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Ahmed Baba-Jamal, called on men to end violence against women and reminded them that they could not establish their headship of their families through violence. He urged women to report all cases of violence against them to the Domestic Violence Unit of the Police Service.