The Women’s Commissioner (WOCOM) of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), of UDS Tamale Campus, with support from Savana Signatures a Non-Governmental Organisation, under the project SHE+ on Tuesday 22nd June 2023, organised a one-day seminar on the theme “Finding A Holistic Approach To Safeguarding Against Sexual Abuse; The Role of Our Institutions”. The seminar among others, sort to solicit the views of female students in particular, on the measures that can be taken to combat Sexual Abuse in educational institutions in particular.

In her welcome address, the Women’s Commisioner of the SRC, Tamale Campus, Miss Niamatu Alhassan observed that the main reason behind instances of sexual abuse is lack of enforcement of the law. She added that the penchant for victims of sexual abuse to hide such crimes to avoid social stigma and or simply resolving the crime after receiving compensation from the perpetrators, also contributes to the continuation of the menace.

“In order to achieve the objective of ending sexual Abuse, there is the strong need to create understanding and awareness among the stakeholders including CSOs, teachers and parents and guardians”, she said.

The seminar brought together distinguished speakers from the Savana Signatures, the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the University for Development Studies, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, and the Department of Gender in the Northern Region.

As part of putting measures to ensure that, the message resonates with the general public, the WOCOM and her team resorted to social media advocacy and a debate competition among students to increase awareness about the importance of safeguarding and the role of institutions in realising a society free of Sexual Abuse.

The head of the Guidance and Counselling Unit of UDS, Tamale Campus, Alhaji Hafiz Husein took students through the University’s Sexual Harassment policy and urged them to download the policy document and study it for it will help guide and safeguard them against sexual abuse.

A representative of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Mrs Vincentia Aboagye, underscored the role of institutions in safeguarding children and adults. She encouraged students and the general public to report incidents of sexual abuse and harassment to the appropriate quarters for the law to take its course.

From the Northern Regional Gender Department, Mr. Abdul Latif Abubakar also took the students through best ways to safeguard themselves against sexual abuse.

Also present at the workshop was the Vice Dean of Students Dr. Umar Haruna who doubled as the chairperson of the workshop.  On behalf of the Dean of Students, while congratulating the WOCOM and their partners for organising the workshop, he said institutions need to strengthen ties with relevant stakeholders to safeguard people they work with especially, women and protect them against sexual abuse.

Story by: Hamdan Wumpeka Amadu and Ali Abdur Razaq Danbo
(University Relations)