YUMW, Bono Regional chapter advocates decent jobs for women, girls

The Bono Regional chapter of the Young Urban Women’s Movement (YUWM), a group that promotes the welfare of young women has called on the government to create job opportunities for women to help end growing trend of violence against women and girls in society. 
 
The government must increase budgetary allocation into the Domestic Violence Fund, Ms Winifred Appiah Acheampomaa, the Public Relations Officer of the chapter advocated, and called for intensify public education on the Domestic Violence Act too. 
 
Addressing a news conference at Odomase in the Sunyani West Municipality of the region to mark the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,” she stressed that the nation ought to do more to stem domestic violence in the country. 
 
The ActionAid, a Non-governmental organisation sponsored the conference which aimed at raising public awareness about gender-based violence for systemic change. 
 
According to the United Nations, gender-based violence was pervasive affecting more than one in three women globally, and thereby abusing their fundamental human rights, dignity and self-worth, Ms Acheampomaa, 
 
She called on the government to prioritize vocational and employable skills training for women and girls to get decent jobs and free them economically. 
 
The government through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection must also intensify public education on gender equality and women empowerment too to tackle systematic barriers inimical to the growth and development of women and girls. 
 
Ms Acheampomaa observed that empowering women and girls would position them well to play an active role in the decision-making process at all levels. 
 
As part of activities to mark the Day in the region, she said the chapter had organised separate community dialogue sessions at Atronie, Chiraa, and Nsoatre communities to intensify awareness creation on violence and teenage pregnancies. 
 
The chapter in collaboration with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Department of Gender, organised the sessions benefiting about 425 young people including school children, and Persons with Disabilities. 
 
“We also organized social media campaigns to amplify the voices of survivors and activists, increase awareness about gender-based violence, and promote strategies for keeping safe on the internet to prevent exploitation and abuse,” she stated. 
 
Ms Acheampomaa explained the YUWM was an organised group of young women in urban and peri-urban areas with an objective of empowering young women with skills, knowledge, and the right attitudes to challenge and address structural barriers that prevent them from enjoying their rights. 
 
The chapter has over 700 members, comprising young women in the formal and informal sectors.