By Lawrencia Esi Annan/ Olivia Ayerh, GNA
Takoradi, Dec. 16. GNA - The Western Regional office of "The Care Continuum Project" has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with four key Gender Based Violence (GBV) state institutions to come up with workable arrangement for GBV survivors to get relief and remedy.
The institutions are Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Legal Aid, Social Welfare and Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) mandated by law to deal with Gender Based Violence issues.
The Deputy Chief Party for Care Continuum Project, Mr. Egbert Nii Kpakpo Bruce said the MOU was also to establish an overarching framework for setting out practical arrangements towards undertaking joint activities to strengthen GBV referrals and redress support for priority populations in the Western Region.
The MOU, he indicated was expected to among others increase the number of people receiving post GBV care, redress identified GBV cases, and provide access to free legal health advice and psycho-social support by GBV survivors.
The Care Continuum Project and the actors, Mr Bruce said were to jointly collaborate and carry out an outreach Programme in project communities to promote and deepen knowledge on GBV prevention and management and to also conduct annual review exercise to assess the progress of the collaboration.
Mr Bruce explained that Care Continuum Project was concerned with providing access to HIV/AIDS care services in the Western region, because the region for the past few years experienced an increase in HIV/AIDS prevalent rate.
"It has therefore become necessary to collaborate with the key state agencies to help reduce stigma and discrimination and allow persons living with HIV/AIDS and GBV to equally enjoy their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution," he added.
He said the region has also recorded an increase in important economic activities, which resulted in the influx of people from other places into the region hence, the need to create an environment that supported the co - existence of everyone.
Madam Efua Yankson, the Deputy Chief Investigator for CHRAJ, said the details of the MOU was in line with the Commission’s mission and vision which seek to promote and protect the fundamental human rights of all persons and to also create a free and just society.
She explained that signing the MOU was also to contribute toward the fulfilment of SDG goal five (5), which seeks to achieve gender equality.
Madam Yankson said GBV was one of the most notable human rights foundations in the society, which required social, national and economic boundaries because it undermined the dignity and security of its victims.
She indicated that as part of CHRAJ's strategies to combat the canker of GBV, it has created an online discrimination system which is an alternative platform, where persons living with HIV/AIDS can privately and conveniently seek redress on HIV/AIDS related discrimination and stigma cases and report rape cases.
She said CHRAJ was committed to the signing of the MOU as the protection of fundamental human rights required a multi sectorial approach and that the "MOU commits them as state institutions to work together closely towards achieving a common goal, in the pursuit of upholding the dignity of all persons by standing up for human rights".
Mr Ato Assan, a Mediator at Legal Aid Commission said the MOU was a noble course and as such his outfit looked forward to a better collaboration with all stakeholders and partners to ensure that the project achieved its intended objectives.
Mr Jonathan Djan Gyewu, Regional Director for the Social Welfare said part of their core mandate was to support the vulnerable in society and was therefore committed to achieving that the goal of the project was achieved.
DSP Frank Nana Asomaning from DOVVSU, said they responded to the increasing level of violence against women and children and to also enforce existing laws and policies on GBV and its related issues and was therefore committed to ensuring that the goal of the MOU was realised.
The Chief Party for Care Continuum, Dr. Henry Nagai emphasized that the MOU was an important Programme since it would enable the partners involved to make constant checks on each other and the project
He said the project was comprehensive with community and health components and urged the four institutions to work in a collaborative manner and make sure that nothing became a barrier in order to achieve the goal of the project.
GNA
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