The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has ended its 16 days of activism against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) with an arts exhibition in Accra.
The exhibition, dubbed, Faces of Violence, was used to highlight issues of violence in society and the plight of victims.
Country Representative of the UNFPA, Mr Niyi Ojuolape in his address lauded the young people for raising their voices and helping to stop sexual and gender-based violence.
He said sexual and gender-based violence remains a “silent pandemic” in the country and it was important for everyone to help to fight it.
Shedding light on what UNFPA has been doing on its part to tackle the problem, he said strong partnership has been forged with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and allied agencies to deal with the phenomenon head-on.
“We all have a role to play, so when you see a situation where someone is being affected by SGBV or a victim of SGBV, please report to the nearest authority so that his/her life can be saved,” he said.
A 2016 research indicates that about 27.7 per cent of Ghanaian women had experienced at least one form of domestic violence (physical, economic, psychological, social and sexual violence).
This data presents a situation which experts believe need to be urgently tackled.
Chief Director of Gender Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakariah who was also at the exhibition said there is now an urgent need to address issues of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Let us all work together to eradicate this plague that dwells in our community and nation so that we all can live peacefully and in harmony,” she said.
The exhibition saw the display of paintings that evoked strong emotions on issues of sexual and gender-based violence in Ghana.
Some of the artistes who exhibited their works; Julius Kofi Mortis, Olawale Oloya and George Koranteng said they believed that it was important to use their skill to visually communicate and education people on SGBV.
