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Ghana has tasked the international community to adopt radical actions to combat debilitating effects of gender based violence in the face of emerging socio-economic and political challenges.  

“Governments must strengthen institutional frameworks and increased resources for realising women’s and girl’s equality and empowerment in addition to the effective implementation of the legal and policy framework at national, regional and international levels.

“We will need courage to do this, the human rights of women and girls should be the central fulcrum,” Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection stated at the on-going United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) session at New York.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, global leaders and activists are therefore using the CSW59 session to take stock of progress and remaining challenges for implementing this landmark agreement for gender equality and women's rights.

Nana Oye Lithur who is the head of Ghana’s Delegation also called on UN Member States to double efforts towards implementation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and Beijing to the greater benefit of the girl-child.

She noted that gender equality and human rights of women and girls are as relevant for the empowerment of women as they were 20 years ago, which led to the Beijing Declaration.

She said Ghana is celebrating a double anniversary – 20 years of national implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as well as 40 years of the national women’s machinery.

The Gender Minister said Ghana’s National Women’s Machinery for the promotion of gender equality development and peace has stood the test of time these 40 years in the midst of difficult socio-economic and cultural challenges but has scored some successes and best practices.

Ghana’s delegation includes Ministers of States, Members of Parliament, Gender Advocates, Civic Educators, and traditional leaders.

Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka UN Women Executive Director whilst commending governments and those in civil society who have worked tirelessly on gender empowerment frontline urged “governments and all partners to step it up.

“We seek truly bold actions in order to see accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, 2020, and before 2030, to make a world where there are no barriers to women’s empowerment and gender equality,” she said.

The UN Women Executive Director said 20 years ago in Beijing, countries met with enthusiasm, optimism, and the expectation that we would be able to achieve gender equality by 2005.

She said the Platform for Action has a perfect pedigree – inspired by both Member States and civil society. It is part of a cohort of international instruments and declarations, including CEDAW, International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

She said the undeniable legacy of the last 20 years is a changed normative landscape. Legislation has been passed in many countries to support all the critical areas of the Beijing Platform for Action. Constitutions have been amended in compliance with CEDAW.

“What has not been done, however, is to change the attitudes that perpetuate the culture of male superiority and the stereotypes that diminish women.  This unfortunately has subverted the gains that the good laws can bring.

“There remains an unresolved clash between the modern laws and customary laws that has robbed us of the benefits of these good laws.  If we do not address this, our progress will always be compromised.  This is what we have to deal with now, once and for all,” the UN Women Executive Director stated.