Gbawe Municipal office of CHRAJ partners Actionaid Gh to educate the public

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice of Weija-Gbawe Municipal Office with its Social partner, Actionaid GH conducted a public education and sensitisation for some communities in the Ga South Municipal Assembly, including Okaijaman, Bebianiha, Kofi Panfo, Akweiman, Nsuobri '2', Kyekyewere, Ashweinagmor, Mmaapehia, Honise, Hobor etc.

The Topic discussed were child protection and family welfare, domestic violence, positive discipline and consequence of child abuse, parent's role in education.

Mr. Frank Kwabena Owusu the Municipal Director of Weija-Gbawe CHRAJ during his presentation intimated that Child protection is the act of safeguarding the right of all children to a life free from violence, exploitation, and neglect; and the prevention and responsiveness to violence, exploitation and abuse against children- including commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labour, and harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/ and child marriage.

Additionally, he said it also includes issues on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) which covers defilement, rape, child marriage and other forms of violence which are driven by gender power dynamics and inequality.

According to Mr. Owusu a study conducted by Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection with support from UNICEF 2015 indicates that, the cost of child abuse to Ghana is in the order of 926 and 1.442 billion cedis per year.

He stated further that the direct cost involved prevention activities, abuse related interventions by medical, law enforcement, social welfare and other actors.

Mr. Frank Kwabena Owusu the Municipal Director posited that UN goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is aim at achieving gender equality and empowering all women, girls also targets the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

Eliminate all harmful practice's, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Mr. Owusu indicated that the education and sensitisation on the aforementioned topics is predicated on its human rights mandate to promote, protect and enforce the fundamental human rights of all citizens in Ghana.