Madam Sheila Minka-Premo, the Founding Consultant at Apex Lawconsult, has called for the strict enforcement of Ghana’s laws to effectively address gender-based violence.
Her remarks were made during the Women Speak event, organized by the European Union in Ghana on Wednesday, November 27, as part of efforts to raise awareness about violence against women.
Under the theme ‘Beyond Beijing+30: Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Women’s Rights,’ Madam Sheila emphasized the urgent need for collaborative efforts to tackle the persistent violence against women and girls.
In her keynote address, she highlighted the severe impact of gender-based violence on individuals, families, and society. She also stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of such violence, which are deeply rooted in societal structures and cultural norms.
“There is the need to address the root causes of gender-based violence. It is rooted in deep societal issues, including entrenched gender inequalities, harmful cultural norms, and power imbalances, which may possibly be deeply rooted in the culture and systems of our society.
“Transforming societal attitudes that condone violence as well as dismantling systems that perpetuate discrimination is very vital, and this requires continuous education, advocacy, accountability, and punitive actions, as well as the promotion of respect for human rights through the drastic enforcement of the laws.
Addressing the challenges faced by survivors of gender-based violence, Madam Minka-Premo called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, non-governmental organisations, and community stakeholders.
“Government institutions and organisations must work together to ensure the enforcement of laws that protect survivors of gender-based violence.”
