Durbar on Gender Based Violence by Community Based Anti- Violence Teams COMBAT

Violence against women is a global phenomenon, occurring in every continent, country and culture. It harms families, impoverishes communities and reinforces other forms of inequality and violence throughout societies.

The effects of violence can remain with children for lifetime and can pass from one generation to another. Studies have shown that, children who have witnessed or have been subjected to violence are more likely to become victims or abusers themselves.

 It is against this backdrop that Action Aid carried out a survey to find out the level of gender based violence in the Talenis and Nabdam Disticts. 

Action Aid Ghana has therefore organized a durbar to disseminate the findings in Sakote in the Nabdam District of the upper East Region.

Statistics gathered after a survey indicated that about 70 – 80 percent of women between the ages of 30-55 years have experience some forms of physical, sexual and cultural violence while 70 percent of children below the ages of 18 have experienced economic violence.

The survey also   showed that, 75 percent of women between the ages of 30 -55 years’ in 15 sampled communities experience emotional violence.

These were disclosed during a sensitization durbar on the findings on Gender based violence mapping, at the community level, by Community Based Anti-Violence Teams, COMBAT.

Gender based violence GBV is the general term used to described violence that occur as a result of the normative role expectation associated with each gender, along with the unequal power relationship between the two genders, within the context of a specific society.

The durbar, which was organized by Action Aid Ghana in Sakote in the Nabdam district saw about 85 women participating. 

As part of the action plan to end gender based-violence in communities in the Upper East Region, Action Aid Ghana has established a 7 member anti-violence teams known as COMBAT in 30 communities in 5 districts across the region.

These teams have had capacity building training from relevant support offices such as DOVVSU, CHRAJ and department of Social Welfare among others.

The objective of these teams is to support communities with awareness creation on gender based violence and its consequences on development.

Violence against women and girls is an extreme manifestation of gender inequality and systematic discrimination. Speaking with Radio Ghana, the Programme Officer of Action Aid Ghana, Juliet Lelea Adams, said gender based violence and violence against women are terms that are often used interchangeably as most gender-based violence is inflicted by men on women and girls.

Ms. Adams added that, women and girls are mostly venerable when it comes to violence, one of the most systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world. 

She indicated that, Gender based-violence against women is a form of discrimination and deeply rooted in power imbalances and structural relationships of inequality between women and men.

Ms. Adams emphasized that, rights of women and children to live free of violence depends on the protection of their human rights and a strong chain of justice.

It is therefore incumbent on government and all other stakeholders to lean support in ensuring that strategies are put in place to end gender-based violence in the community and the region as a whole.