By: Murtala Issah
An initiative to tackle Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) across fifty five Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) has been launched in Tamale. The project, dubbed “Agenda 55” seeks to reduce SGBV through collaborative efforts among stakeholders including fifty five MMDAs in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East regions.
Under the initiative, the fifty five MMDAs will share ideas and support one another through peer review.
NORSAAC, a civil society organization is partnering with other stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the National Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to implement the project.
The Executive Director of NORSAAC, Mohammed Awal, explained that, the project seeks to eliminate all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and the targeted districts.
He added that, the districts will peer review each other and adjust their plans to address lingering issues in their areas.
Mr. Awal, further explained that, the vision is to “co-create with government an annual evidence generation platform on protecting girls against SGBV, as well as facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learnt, with a view to accelerating the implementation of policies that address SGBV.”
Present at the launch of the project, were various stakeholders, including some MMDAs, the media and some partner civil society organizations.
A Gender and Social Inclusion Advocate, Baviina Safia Musah in her remarks at the launch of the project expressed worry about the numerous barriers facing victims of SGBV.
She noted that, in their quest for justice, victims are often confronted by their the society. “The whole society will come after you, the justice system itself doesn’t help, in fact, in this conversation, they are the biggest failure,” she stressed.
NORSAAC and its partners are therefore urging the media and influential voices in society to speak up and support victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.