Campaign to end discriminatory religious & traditional practices against women and girls launched

A coalition of community based activists, led by the Rayuwa Foundation, a non-governmental organization, today launched a media campaign to end discriminatory religious and traditional practices against women and girls in Ghana. The campaign is being supported by the Carter Center an international nongovernmental organization

Various forms of discriminatory practices, including child marriage, female genital cutting, widowhood rites, denial of access to formal education, and son preference amongst others, exist in most Ghanaian communities. The campaign is aimed at complementing government’s efforts at ending these practices.

Speaking at the launch, Ms Asmau Ayub, the Executive Director of Rayuwa Foundation, said despite relentless efforts by various stakeholders to end these practices, women and girls continue to be victims. According to her; “there is therefore the need to create awareness and knowledge about how discrimination against women and girls affect the development and wellbeing of society”.

Ms. Ayub urged the media and key stakeholders to garner the required support for actions that promote a Ghanaian community in which men, women, boys and girls enjoy same rights and privileges for sharing a common space and most of all, for being Humans.

Ms. Danielle Taylor, a Human Rights Associate of Carter Center, said that the media campaign will provide an enabling environment to successfully achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 5, which relates to promoting gender equality.

She reiterated her organization’s commitment to support institutions and organizations that champion the cause of women and girls around the globe. “The Carter Center has been supporting countries and organizations around the world, over the past 35 years, to promote human rights”, she added.

The Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Gifty Twum Ampofo, who launched the campaign lauded the initiative and pledged government’s support. She said; “this initiative will go a long way to create awareness about some of the key challenges confronting women and girls in their daily quest to contribute to Ghana’s development.

The campaign is being rolled out in the Northern and Greater Accra Regions.