The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) has launched a fund to support victims and survivors of domestic violence in the country. The fund dubbed Domestic Violence and Victims Support Fund is aimed at providing the required materials and financial support and the construction of shelters for victims of domestic violence in the regions and districts. The fund is also to be applied for training and capacity building of persons connected with the provision of shelter, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into the society. This is part of the ministry’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign under the theme Peace in the world begins from home. Let us end gender violence now. The days would be used to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human right issue at the district, regional, and national levels and to strengthen local work around violence against women. Launching the fund, the Minister for Women and Childrens Affairs, Juliana Azumah-Mensah said the state is under an obligation not only to protect the rights of the vulnerable but also to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society. She said the fund among other things is to help cater for the health and legal expenses of victims and to alleviate their plight and sufferings. “The government through the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has provided a seed capital of GH¢10,000for the fund” she added. Hon. Azumah-Mensah underscored the need for Ghana to focus and re-energize its effort in eradicating gender-based violence which is on the ascendancy in the country. She observed that the fund is in fulfillment of section 29 of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007, Act 732 which among other things is to provide material support to victims of gender-based violence. The Minister regretted the upsurge of domestic violence especially on women and children in the country despite the passage of the Domestic violence and Victim Support Unit (DVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service. “Available data indicates an uncomfortable high incidence of violence against women and children. Their rights have been violated including their social and cultural rights through practices such as widow rites by ordeal". The practices largely tend to affect the confidence and self esteem of the victims, she added. Hon. Azumah-Mensah noted that the establishment of the fund is a demonstration of government’s effort to achieve Goal 3 of the UN Millennium Development Goals of equality and the empowerment of women. She urged civil society groups championing the combat against gender-based violence to be zealous in working towards realizing a violence free society. The minster called on corporate organizations, civil society groups and individuals to contribute their quota to the fund to help alleviate the plight of our mothers, sisters, sons and daughters who fall victims to abuse. The Ministry of Women and Childern's Affairs together with all stakeholders would on Thursday November 25, join the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for the elimination of violence against women.