VALIDATION MEETING FOR GHANA’S REPORT ON MAPUTO PROTOCOL

The Department of Gender, under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, held a one-day workshop on Thursday, June 27, 2024, to validate inputs and finalize Ghana’s draft report on the Maputo Protocol to be submitted to the African Union in Accra.

The Ghana Report seeks to fulfill Ghana’s reporting obligation, identify and take stock of measures being adopted to implement the provisions of the Maputo Protocol, and canvass for more support to accelerate the process towards the attainment of gender equality and subsequent international reporting obligations.

The Deputy Director for the Department of Gender, Madam Vera Karikari, speaking on behalf of the sector Minister, Hon. Dakoa Newman, commended the UNFPA and other stakeholders for their continuous support to the Ministry on the report of the Maputo Protocol.

Highlighting the Protocol, the Minister explained that it has contributed to shifting the promotion and protection of women’s human rights in Africa since its adoption.

She emphasized that the validation workshop would help ensure the Protocol is effectively and efficiently implemented.

The sector Minister is optimistic that with intense participation in the workshop, a comprehensive national report on the implementation of the Maputo Protocol will promote transparency and accountability.

The Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, speaking through the Principal Programme Officer, Madam Sabia Kpekata, pointed out that the Maputo Protocol provides a unique opportunity for the country to reflect on accomplishments, acknowledge shortcomings, and chart a course forward that will accelerate progress and leave no one behind.

She therefore urged participants to contribute insights and recommendations to shape the content of the final report.

In her remarks, the Gender Analyst of UNFPA Ghana, Madam Selina Owusu, commended the Ministry and the Department of Gender for engaging diverse stakeholders in the workshop.

She affirmed UNFPA’s commitment to collaborating with various stakeholders and supporting the implementation of the Maputo Protocol to create an enabling environment for women, girls, and the vulnerable in the country.

The Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights is an African regional treaty affirming women’s rights to exercise self-determination and bodily autonomy free of discrimination, coercion, and violence.

The Protocol draws implicitly and explicitly from existing United Nations (UN) International Human Rights law and authoritative guidance, contextualizing it to women in Africa.

Source: MoGCSP