Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-GH), emphasized the importance of breaking the culture of silence surrounding sexual violence to reduce its prevalence in the country.
Speaking at a forum in Tamale organized by SWIDA-GH as part of its KASA Project, she stressed that remaining silent about sexual abuse allows perpetrators to act with impunity.
The event, held in collaboration with the Media and Communication Department of the Tamale Technical University (TaTU), involved partnerships with the Centre of Equity and Equal Opportunities of TaTU, the African Women's Development Fund, and received funding support from the Ford Foundation and Open Society Initiative for Africa (OSIWA).
The forum was a part of the activities commemorating this year's 16 Days of Activism Against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV).
Participants included students from selected Senior High Schools in Tamale, young female leaders, women commissioners from tertiary institutions in the region, male champions, and other stakeholders.
Miss Khadija Abdul-Sammed, Project Lead for the KASA Project, highlighted that the initiative provided training and mentorship support to selected youth, enabling them to act as advocates against sexual violence in their schools and communities.
Mrs. Linda Amoah, Girls Education Officer for the Northern Region, emphasized the disproportionate impact of sexual violence on women and girls, urging them to courageously speak up about their rights. She also called on opinion leaders not to shield perpetrators of SGBV.
Aisha Mohammed, a beneficiary of the KASA Project, expressed gratitude to SWIDA-GH and its partners for providing a platform to advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups in their communities.