The Executive Director of Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA), Rosemond Ewoenam Atutornu, has called on stakeholders, particularly traditional authorities to join the fight against gender-based violence by redefining their thinking towards women.

In a forum to commemorate International Women’s Day on Tuesday at the Kubekrom community number 2, Rosemond Atutornu noted that its high time traditional authorities allowed women to take leadership positions in the community.

“For instance, the local authorities sometimes don’t see a girl being violated or defiled as a crime. They see it as something they can settle in their own community. And when you begin to refer them to the law or Ghana’s constitution, then they come to the realisation of the responsibility they have on their desk,” she said.

She added that, “local authorities should start educating people in their various communities or even in their home by changing the way they look at things. They shouldn’t think women don’t have positions or occupy certain positions even at the chieftaincy. They should look at what particular role women in the community can play and sensitise their own community members first.”

Every year, the world commemorates International Women's Day on March 8 to reflect on women’s achievements, advocate for action to address persistent and widespread inequalities and violence against women.