<<Print>>

Mrs. Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President, has called on religious leaders to lead the campaign against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), for optimal results.

She noted that religious leaders are key to changing and influencing social norms and community beliefs, particularly those that put adolescent girls at risk and said their silence and inaction could be detrimental to the welfare of young women in their communities.

“Your unique relationships with members of local communities, which are often built on mutual respect and trust makes it advantageous for the championing and promotion of interventions which would bring significant progress in communities,” she added.

Mrs Bawumia was speaking at the ceremony to draw the curtains on a three-day national conference for Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in Accra.

The conference was put together by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs as collaborators, and Global Affairs Canada, as sponsors.

"The Power of Choice" was the theme for the event and it was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders drawn from across the ten regions.

The event sought to provide participants with the appropriate information and skills to understand, advocate and support the dialogue on CSE, reproductive health and rights, family planning and prevention of SGBV.