Gender equality is essential to achieve sustainable development—EU

By Morkporkpor Anku

Accra, 29 November, GNA – Mr. Massimo Mina, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Ghana, said gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also essential to achieve sustainable development and prosperity.

“We are proud of the partnerships we have built and remain committed to continuing to invest in this vital work for years to come,” he said.

Ms. Mina was speaking at the “Women Speak” event and this year’s commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with the theme: “Beyond Beijing+30: Combating Gender-Based Violence and Promoting Women’s Rights.”

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign serves as a global platform to raise awareness, inspire action, and renew the collective commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

He said that nearly 30 years ago, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action established a comprehensive framework for advancing gender equality and empowering women.

He said progress has been made since the law was passed, but gender-based violence remains a significant obstacle to achieving gender equality.

“I am pleased that this country has finally passed the Affirmative Action Bill and that this legislation marks an important milestone in Ghana’s journey to achieve gender equality and promote women’s empowerment,” she said.

He said the European Union has been a long-standing partner of Ghana and “we are proud to support the development of this bill”.

Ms. Mina said, “We examine the complexity of gender-based violence; Let us remember that each of us has a role to play in creating a world free from fear and discrimination.”

The Head of Cooperation said that with its Gender Action Plan III, the European Union has committed that by 2027, at least 85 percent of all new external actions will target “gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls” as an important or core issue. lens.

He said the delegation has long been committed to supporting this goal through a wide range of initiatives, its work spanning many sectors including education, economic empowerment, social protection and governance, and always focusing on improving the lives of women and women. girls.

He said the EU also funds projects specifically designed to address and combat gender-based violence.

He said one example was ENOUGH which just ended! A project implemented by Oxfam in Ghana, Liberia and Mali with its Ghana-based project management unit, with an EU contribution of 5 million Euros.

The project’s achievements include strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and encouraging men and boys to change social norms regarding sexual and gender-based violence.

Another example is the €400,000 Women in Fisheries Against Violence (WIFVES) project, Mr. Mina said.

The project promotes gender equality by advocating for the prevention of gender-based discrimination and building the capacity of fishers to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in fishing communities in the Central and Western regions.

Madam Sheila Minkah-Premo, Senior Managing Partner of Apex Lawconsult, said the Gender Equality Committee should be established to ensure there are more women in decision-making positions.

He said that the Gender Equality Committee will be responsible for the coordination as well as the preparation of legislative acts or legislation regarding women.

Currently, in Ghana, the alternative action gender equality bill has been passed into law to strengthen equality and women’s gender participation in the public and private sectors.

This, he said, should be implemented at all levels to strengthen the legal system, provide accessible legal services, strengthen police response, as well as ensure justice systems support survivors rather than re-victimise them.

She also said survivors should have access to healthcare, mental health services, and community and social support.

He said the Action Platform calls for strengthening judicial and legal mechanisms to facilitate access to justice for victims of violence and providing comprehensive support services to survivors, including shelters, legal aid, health services and psychosocial support.

He called for preventive measures through public education, community engagement and awareness-raising campaigns to ensure the world is prepared to celebrate Beijing Plus 30 in 2025.

Madam Minkah-Premo said that since it is women who suffer the most, it is important to reflect on what has been achieved and plan how to effectively respond to gender-based violence, while also supporting women’s rights.

GNA