80% of sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by men – Department of Gender

The Director of the Department of Gender in the Central Region, Madam Thywill Eyra Kpe, has disclosed that it is very good to engage men and boys in discussions concerning sexual and gender-based violence since about 80% of the perpetrators are men.

As parts of efforts to sensitize adolescents, especially boys, on their sexual reproductive health, Mrs Thywill Kpe revealed in an interview at Ekumfi in the Central Region that according to statistics from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), majority of sexual and gender-based violence are caused by men, hence it is prudent that men are included in such advocacy activities as partners.

This move is aimed at finding a total and wholistic end to sexual and gender-based violence.

“Last year, as part of moves to address issues of adolescent girls particularly teenage pregnancy, adolescent reproductive issues and teenage pregnancy, we realized it is important to also engage the men and the boys."

"From the data in our quarters, DOVVSU, we realized that about 80% of the perpetrators of domestic violence are men, whiles 80% of victims are also women."

"Therefore, if we want to address the issue of sexual and gender-based violence, it is important that we engage the men as partners to help in the fight against gender-based violence” she noted.

Sex is an activity involving both sexes, then it is important boys are also spoken to about their sexual and reproductive health so they become informed about their sexual activities and its repercussions.

According to her, she stated that the Ghana Health Service data in 2017, about 19% of persons who impregnate these adolescent girls are boys who graduated from the basic school or just completed Junior High School.

This, therefore, means that leaving them out of the equation is not prudent if indeed the Central Region wants to really eradicate or reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy in the region drastically.



“When it comes to sex, it is both sides. For instance, if you look at the Ghana Health Service data in 2017, it shows you that about 19% of those who impregnate these girls in the region are boys who have just completed Junior High School and boys between the ages of 10 and 19 years. So, we realized that it was important we engaged these group of boys as part of our advocacy work to end sexual and gender-based violence and promote good adolescent sexual and reproductive health practices that can help us reduce teenage pregnancy in the Central Region” she stated.

The gender ministry is really fighting hard to reduce drastically teenage pregnancy and all sorts of gender-based violence.

As a result, the Department of Gender in the Central Region, led by the Director, Madam Thywill Eyra Kpe has been organizing series of capacity building and empowerment workshops for both boys, girls, men and women.

So far about 100 men have been selected from six districts in the region and have been empowered to lead a fearless campaign to drastically reduce the spate of sexual and gender-based violence rearing up its ugly head in the region.