“This is to call for an end to gender based violence and accountability on the part of policy makers and community members to end violence, discrimination and inequality,” Ms Karimatu Anas, Head of Public Affairs at the Gender Ministry said  in a statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The statement said the Campaign was a powerful platform to educate the public about gender-based violence, human rights, and the intersections of political, economic, and social realities. The Campaign begins with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, from November which would be climaxed on December 10 with the International Human Rights Day.

The gender activism emphasised that gender-based violence in its many forms was  human rights violation. The period would also be used to highlight other significant dates including November 29, which is International Women and Human Defenders Day; December 1,World AIDS Day; December 3, International day for Persons with Disabilities and December 6, the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The statement said the international theme for this year’s campaign was “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All!” “This is in recognition that education is a public good and a fundamental human right recognised in Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and upheld in various international and regional human rights conventions and treaties,” the statement said.

“Ghana’s education sector continues to record progress towards the attainment of gender parity in education at the basic level,” the statement said.The statement said in spite of this, sexual and gender based violence is affecting girl child education in Ghana. In response to gender based violence, the Government through the Ministry of Gender, and in collaboration with UNFPA, has set up gender based violence response centres at Agbogbloshie and Mallam-Atta markets in Accra.

These centres, is to be replicated in other markets across the country and provide a comprehensive package of integrated medical, legal and psychosocial support to victims and survivors of gender based violence. For the first time in Ghana’s history, Government through the Ministry of Gender, has an operational centre for abused women and children here in Accra.

When women, girls, people with disabilities, migrants, and indigenous people are denied the right to education in safe and equal spaces, the world as a community stands to lose. This election year must also see Ghana Stand up with all strength against violence in all its forms with a stronger emphasis on peace in the country for the sake of our children and their survival, education and development.