The Domestic Violence Secretariat (DVS), under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has trained 30 market women in the Bono Region as paralegals to help tackle abuse at the community level.

The initiative forms part of the Secretariat’s efforts to strengthen early response mechanisms to Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV).

The training is aimed at equipping market leaders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to identify, prevent, and respond to cases of abuse within their markets and surrounding communities.

Participants were taken through several key areas, including: Raising awareness on the impact of Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence, strengthening their ability to identify, document, and respond to incidents of abuse, enhancing referral pathways to ensure survivors are connected to the right authorities and support services, and supporting timely access to justice through coordinated reporting and community engagement.

The Secretariat says empowering market executives, who often serve as first points of contact for distressed women, will help ensure quicker intervention and provide vital support for survivors.

The initiative reflects the Ministry’s broader commitment to building safer, more responsive communities where survivors of abuse can receive the protection, services and justice they deserve.