The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on Tuesday launched the annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

The focus of this year’s campaign will be on making school environments safe, especially for teenage girls.

Celebrated across the world, Ghana has chosen the theme ''From peace in the house to peace in the world: make school safe for all”.

Speakers at the launch of the campaign – drawn from the Gender Ministry, police and civil society –  reiterated the need for teenagers, especially girls to be protected from men who seek to take advantage of them.

Gender Minister Nana Oye Lithur, noted that laws against rape and defilement must be strictly enforced to check cases of teenage pregnancy in the country.

National coordinator of DOVVSU ACP Habiba Twumasi Sarpong revealed cases of violence against girls and women rise each year.

According to her, in 2014 for instance, out of the over 17 thousand reported cases at the unit, 15,000 were against women.

She promised her unit will continue to punish perpetrators to deter men from abusing women.

Mohammed Alhassan, founder of the Kayayie Youth Association, said ACP Habiba Twumasi Sarpong’s promise is the way to go.

He said he receives more than 20 cases of violence against women every week.

Acting Programmes Officer at Action Aid, Hetty Lamptey, emphasized the need for schools to provide services which will ensure the safety of students against gender-based violence.

Despite several interventions by governments and civil society groups, gender-based violence continues to be a major problem in a lot of Ghanaian communities.