Accra, Nov. 28, GNA – The Women in law and Development in Africa has launched a “Digital Aid Centre” help combat Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and related offences in Ghana and other African countries.
It said the launch of its new online reporting platform formally known as (in French as Center d’Aide Juridique Digitise’ (CAJUD) which translates as “Digital Legal Aid Centre”) would make it easier for survivors and victims of SGBV to report such cases.
Madam Gloria Kankam, Coordinator of Girls Empowerment Programme and Covid-19 Alliance Committee at WiLDAF Ghana , speaking at the launch, said the Centre aimed to increase access, awareness and case reporting of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
She said it included Domestic Violence (DV), Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) which encompassed rape, defilement, teenage pregnancy, female genital mutilation (FGM), witchcraft accusation among others.
“‘Digital Legal Aid Centre” is part of WiLDAF West Africa COVID-19 Response Project titled “Putting Equality and Women’s Rights at the Heart of Public Policies Relating to Covid-19 in four African Countries – Ghana, Benin, Cote D’ivoire and Togo,” she said.
She noted that prior to the launch of the “Digital Legal Aid Centre”, WiLDAF Ghana had been receiving SGBV cases through its hotlines and in-person and on the field which was keenly supported by the organisation’s Pro-bono Lawyers.
Madam Kankam said their hotlines remained active in the light of their new hybrid work environment to due COVID-19, adding that previous cases would be routed onto the digital space.
She stated that WiLDAF Ghana together with its partners would ensure that the programme would be operational in all regions of Ghana to make it very easy to work on cases.
Madam Kankam called on Ghanaian who were experiencing any form of SGBV to call, WhatsApp, text, send audios, videos and pictures to their hotlines for immediate legal assistance on the following numbers 0203895226, 0556233474, 0202627081
GNA