The Greater Accra Regional Department of Gender held a meeting with the service providers of essential services package for victims of the gender based violence. The meeting was held at the Conference Room of the Accra Rehabilitation Centre. The purpose of the Meeting was for Service Providers to report on their activities for the quarter to be compiled and submitted to the Domestic Violence Secretariat.
Service Providers of Essential Services Package for Victims of Gender-based Violence within Greater Accra were made up of representatives from the following institutions, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Gender, Department of Community Development, Domestic Violence Secretariat, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Police Hospital, Judicial Service, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), PPAG.
The Department of Social Welfare has foster parents and private shelters that offer support to pregnant teenage girls and teenage mother to enable them return to school after delivery.Pupils are being taught to name their body parts through rhymes, songs and flash cards. This informs them about sexuality issues in terms of where to touch and not to touch. It enables victims of abuse to clearly describe their ordeal during court proceedings. CHRAJ also investigates institutions who falter in their human rights protection mandate. An example was an investigation of DOVVSU in a rape case where the court ruled in favour of the perpetrator.
It was recommended that the first point of call of victims of abuse should be the hospital/ medical facility and not the police station as it is the currently.