By Jones Anlimah
The 2023 Volta Regional Annual Gender Equality Males’ Empowerment School dubbed “GEMS 2023,” has been held at Ho, the Volta regional capital, with 30 young males attending.
Themed “Action for Gender Equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Rights for All: Men and Boys as Key Partners”, the empowerment school seeks to equip young men and boys with the knowledge and skills needed to become influential advocates for change within their communities, fighting against gender-based violence and other gender-related issues.
The theme seeks to recognise the pivotal role boys and young adolescents, males and men, play as allies in promoting gender equality and ensuring sexual and reproductive health rights for all.
The Gender Equality Males Empowerment School (GEMS) is a platform to instil the appreciation of gender-related issues in adolescent boys and men.
The event brought together 30 young males with a shared commitment to fostering gender equality and reproductive health rights for all from four districts, including Central Tongu, North Dayi, Akatsi North, and Keta Municipal with participants from three schools from each district.
The Volta Regional Director for the Department of Gender, Mrs Eyra Thywill Kpe, said gender gaps in politics, decision-making, the world of work, access to productive resources, healthcare, higher education, technology, and economic empowerment remain rife, despite efforts over the years to bridge the gap.
According to her, the Gender Equality Males Empowerment School was, among others, instituted with support from the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA‘s Global Programme to End Child Marriage with some key objectives.
“To increase knowledge of men and boys on issues of Gender, Gender Equality, SGBV and ASRHR. To provoke frank discussions on the implications of Gender Inequality, SGBV and ASRHR on men and boys, women and girls, societal and national development. To develop the capacities of men and boys to transform gender relations and champion more positive masculinities and gender equality in their communities,” Mrs Eyra Kpe noted.
She added, “To engender discussion with the identified male groups on how best they can mobilise male cohorts to address issues of gender inequality, adolescent pregnancy, and SGBV in their schools and communities. It is our expectation that through effective engagement and a clear understanding of gender issues, we will together create a better society where men and women work together as partners for personal, community, and national development.”
The Volta Regional Director of Education, Mr Francis Yaw Agbemadi, was hopeful that GEMS 2023 will serve as a catalyst to positively transform the region, making it a shining example of gender equality and reproductive health rights advocacy. “Tackling gender-related issues should see our boys and men also play vital roles otherwise, it could be impossible to make headway in ensuring quality in the areas of gender, education, and career development,” he said.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, said the school will help improve the knowledge of young adolescent males in the region on issues of gender, gender equality, sexual and gender-based violence and consequently create a better society where men and women work together as partners for personal, community, and national development.
“I deem this initiative a very laudable one because it creates a platform for engaging boys and men alike from identified schools and community male groups to understand the importance of gender equality, equal education, and career development in both boys and girls, as well as the devastating consequences of sexual and gender-based violence on their personal, societal, and national development,” he said.
Interactive discussions and practical exercises during the empowerment school focused on fostering empathy, understanding the nuances of gender inequality, and providing tools for effective communication and advocacy.
