The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) through its Diakonia Services seeks to continue efforts in rolling out measures to address issues of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). The SGBV project funded by the EMS is a tripartite collaboration between the Ecumenical and Social Relations (ESR), Church Life & Nurture (CLAN), and Development & Social Services (DSS) Departments.
In December 2023 the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity project on “Gender Based Violence” kickstarted with a webinar on the theme ‘Combating Domestic Violence the Role of the Church’ to commemorate the 16 days of Activism Against Domestic Violence and to set off the PCG-EMS GBV 1 year project. The main speaker was Rev. Georgina Boateng.
Commemorating the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD), the Presbyterian Church of Ghana officially launched the ‘Thursdays in Black’ Campaign and held a public lecture on the theme, ‘Sexual And Gender Based Violence As An Affront To The Wholeness Of Life: Exploring Prevention And Support Options In The Body Of Christ’.
This was held at the Osu Eben-Ezer Church Hall and carried live on Facebook and PCG TV. The Chairperson for the occasion was the Rev. Dr. Godwin NiiNoi Odonkor, Clerk of the General Assembly, and the Keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayete-Nyampong immediate past Clerk of the General Assembly.
The project will now be launched in three other Presbyteries; Volta, Asante and Upper Presbyteries. The project will also set up a safe space for abused individuals in Southern Ghana.
Objectives of the Project
The project is set to increase awareness of issues of gender-based violence through public lectures and to launch the ‘Thursdays in Black Campaign’ in four selected regions.
The EMS project will also build the livelihood skills of 60 women at Larteh in the Akuapem Presbytery and Chorkor in the Ga West Presbytery to economically empower them to improve their livelihoods.
It will also expand PCG research on domestic violence within the project communities.
Rev. Prof. Samuel Ayetey Nyampong, the keynote speaker expounded on some of the causes and red flags of sexual violence. Key among them is his assertion that many males are facing sexual, emotional, and physical violence in Ghana but are silent.
Thursdays in Black
Led by the World Council of Churches, Thursdays in Black is an ecumenical campaign that encourages people to speak out against all forms of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence.
People are encouraged to wear black or any representation of black (brooches, hand bands/beads) every Thursday as a symbol of solidarity in strength and resistance against Sexual & Gender-Based Violence.
This gesture reminds us of our responsibility to speak out against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and to ensure that all people, regardless of their gender, are safe from violence in their homes, schools, workplaces, and throughout our society.
The PCG identifies that Advocacy / Awareness Creation is a time-tested strategy that can reduce Sexual & Gender-Based Violence in the country. The Project would therefore organize public sensitizations and Advocacy Campaigns to revamp the World Council of Churches (WCC)’s “Thursdays in Black” Campaign against Domestic Violence to increase awareness and provide possible solutions to dealing with and addressing the challenge of the issues of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence.
PCG urges all the various Courts of the Church to participate by wearing any symbolism of black on Thursdays Towards a World Without Rape, Gender-Based Violence
PR Unit
