UNFPA GHANA Archives - Niyi Ojuolape

UNFPA calls for time, resources to curb domestic violence

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Ghana) has called for an urgent investment in time and resources to prevent a high incidence of domestic violence in various communities in Ghana.

Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, UNFPA Ghana Representative noted that despite the existence of several legal frameworks and institutions, a large segment of the population, especially women, adolescent girls, and children continued to suffer violence in all forms.

“Preventing and responding to violence against those that are vulnerable requires that we intensify our efforts systematically to address risk and protective factors at all levels, mainly; individual, relationship, community, and society.”

Mr. Ojuolape was speaking at a National Stakeholder’s Review Meeting on Ghana’s 10-year Old Domestic Violence Policy and Action Plan on Tuesday in Accra.

The overall goal of the 10-year Policy document (2009-2019) was to eliminate domestic violence from Ghana’s society, create family cohesion, and provide a peaceful environment to accelerate national development.

The Domestic Violence Act, Act 732 (2007) was passed by Parliament in June 2007 to protect women and children, particularly from domestic violence.

During the meeting, the Ministries of Education; Gender, Children, and Social Protection, the Judicial Service and Security Agencies were allowed to draw lessons learnt over the past ten years and strategize on the way forward.

Stakeholders would also discuss interventions as well as key achievements and emerging issues and trends of domestic violence in the country.

Mr. Ojuolape said domestic violence undermined the health, dignity, security, and autonomy of its victims. He tasked stakeholders to take into consideration the ever-evolving digital world, and reflect the needs and realities of women, girls, persons with disabilities and people in hard to reach communities.

Mr. Ojuolape pledged UNFPA’s commitment to partner with Government and Civil Society Organizations to continuously work to eliminate all forms of violence against girls, women, and persons with disabilities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Engaging partners to accelerate ICPD progress in Ghana

“UNFPA continues to position the issue of young people, particularly adolescent girls as a critical parameter for harnessing the demographic dividend in Ghana”- Niyi Ojuolape.

The 2020 Partners Learning Forum (PaLeF) brought together diverse partners, donors, policy makers and stakeholders under the theme: The Unfinished Business: Utilizing Shared Knowledge and Practices for Advancing ICPD in Ghana.

PaLeF aims at fostering shared learning and horizontal collaboration between partners and relevant stakeholders by stimulating innovation and critical thinking to advance the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Ghana.

One key highlight was the mounting of an exhibition, which showcased the impactful work and varied achievements by UNFPA Ghana’s Implementing Partners.