Date
05 Nov 2024
Group photo of participants and NETRIGHT staff at Learning Cafe program

By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah/ Harriet Akosua Kwakye (GNA)

Accra, Nov. 05, GNA - Ms. Cynthia Sunu, Programmes Manager at NETRIGHT, has urged the government to prioritize critical issues affecting marginalized women and ensure the effective implementation of protective policies.

She highlighted key frameworks that need attention, including the National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage, the Domestic Violence Act, the National Gender Policy, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act of 1998, and the Human Trafficking Act of 2005.

Ms. Sunu made the call in an interview with the media during a "Learning Càfe" organised by NETRIGHT in Accra.

She emphasized that while the country had many good policies, effective implementation was lacking.

Ms. Sunu called on governments to prioritize policymaking that addresses the specific needs of women in vulnerable groups through effective implementation.

She said that NETRIGHT was committed to ensuring that policies for marginalized women are not only enacted but effectively implemented.

The event aimed to promote gender-transformative social policies through collaborative dialogue and feminist mobilization.

Under the theme "Empowering Women for Change: Advocating for Gender Transformative Social Policies through Feminist Mobilization in Ghana."

It drew stakeholders from diverse sectors to assess the achievements of NETRIGHT'S "WE TRANSFORM" project and to strategize on expanding its influence.

The 'WE TRANSFORM' project is a two-year initiative focused on advocating for gender equity in social policies.

Ms. Sunu highlighted the urgency of taking swift action to support vulnerable populations, stressing the need to prioritize social protection and transformative policies amidst new economic challenges in Ghana.

"The circumstances of Ghanaian citizens, whether vulnerable or not, should not deteriorate further before social relief efforts are implemented, as was seen in the 1980s," she noted.

Ms. Sunu urged women across the country to come together to foster a sustainable environment for change.

"If women across Ghana are mobilized and empowered, then a strong foundation for sustainable change can be established," she stated.

Ms. Sunu reiterated the need for more advocacy to influence both policymaking and implementation.

Ms. Safura Mutari, a beneficiary of Norsaac, an NGO focused on empowerment for change, as well as NETRIGHT's women empowerment initiatives, encouraged girls and women facing urgent challenges at home or in their minds to speak out to find solutions.

"You can look for social welfare, and even if social welfare is not around your area, the girls in school, you can consult your teachers that you trust to help you address your problems," she advised.

Ms. Mutari shared that the 'Learning Café' had empowered her to make a significant impact in her community and region by working to discourage child marriage.

"It has been incredibly beneficial for me, especially coming from the North.

"Many women in my region are discouraged from speaking out because they have been conditioned to believe that even if they know their rights, they should remain silent.

"However, I have learned here that if you are facing a situation that isn't right for you, you can speak up confidently and seek support," she added.

Ms. Muntari noted that the North faces alarming rates of child marriage and abuse, a situation that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of the victims, as well as their educational opportunities.

"Even though the situation is alarming in the North, if you are already in it, come out and speak out, you will be rescued," she added.

Source: Ghana News Agency (GNA)