The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has launched the 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign at the Kaneshie Market in Accra.

The event, held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, brought together development partners, civil society organisations, transport sector leaders, and members of the public to intensify advocacy, strengthen community action, and promote the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence.

This year’s campaign is themed “Unite! End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls” and focuses on the rising wave of online abuse, including harassment, harmful content, and technology-facilitated violations.

Delivering the keynote address, the Gender Minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, drew attention to national statistics that highlight the persistence of abuse in Ghana.

“Our 2016 Domestic Violence Survey shows that 27.7% of Ghanaian women have suffered at least one form of domestic violence. Furthermore, harmful social norms remain a barrier, with 32% of girls aged 15 to 24 still believing that wife-beating is justified,” she said.

Dr Lartey noted that digital platforms have become a new frontier for gender-based violence, pointing to cyberbullying, image-based sexual abuse, and sextortion as emerging risks that require urgent and coordinated action.

She announced that Cabinet has approved the revised National Domestic Violence Policy and confirmed progress on a new Domestic Abuse Bill and its accompanying Legislative Instrument.

She also highlighted ongoing community interventions, including the training of more than 200 market executives as paralegals and the mobilisation of over 100 professional volunteers to support survivors.

A key feature of the launch was the introduction of a new partnership with the transport sector. The initiative, titled “16 Routes, 16 Stations, 16 Destinations,” will use Ghana’s public transport network to share information on gender-based violence, digital safety, and reproductive health with commuters across the country.

UNFPA Country Representative, Dr Wilfred Ochan, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to the campaign, saying the initiative will “strengthen accountability and safety measures within the transport sector” throughout the 16 days.

The event ended with a symbolic torch-passing ceremony to mark the start of nationwide activities aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive Ghana for women and girls.

The Ministry urged the public to report cases of abuse through its toll-free hotline: 0800 111 222.