DOVVSU Officers undergo One-Day Workshop funded by Australian High Commission

The Australian High Commission in Ghana has organized a day training workshop for Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) coordinators and prosecutors in Accra, to enable them build and enhance their capacity in handling Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases in the country, especially Accra.

The programme, which is among twenty-one (21) other projects funded by the High Commission in partnership with Ghana Australia Alumni Association (G3A) under the  2018/19 Direct Aid Programme (DAP), is also one (1) out of nine (9) gender-focused projects aimed at providing quality and effective services for women and girl victims of violence in the country.

Addressing the participants, programme facilitators and dignitaries present, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Andrews Barnes, remarks that GBV is arguably the most pervasive human rights violations in Ghana and calls for a multi-dimensional approach by all stakeholders, including strengthening the capacity of DOVVSU to discharge its mandate effectively.

According to him, the government of Ghana deserves a commendation for passing into law the Domestic Violence Act (ACT 732) in 2007, which institutes criminal sanctions for perpetrators and civil remedies for domestic violence victims. This he said, improves Ghana’s compliance with its international human rights obligations significantly.

On her part, the Regional DOVVSU Coordinator, Supt. Alice Awarikaro indicated that the workshop was a Training of Trainers (TOT) programme for coordinators drawn from the various divisional and district commands in Accra, and expected to impact others positively with the new knowledge and skills acquired. She said, the Coordinators, investigators and prosecutors will receive training in Victim Trauma Management, Effective Handling of Gender-Based Violence Survivors, Effective Investigations and Prosecution of Gender-Based Violence Cases.

The Australian High Commissioner took the opportunity to present some items to the unit as part of the refurbishment of its Regional DOVVSU Office at the cost of Austrian dollars 40,000. The refurbishment has been the project of Ghana Australia Alumni Association (G3A) under the direct aid programme of the Australian High Commission.  The renovation included a waiting room, an advanced and conducive environment for victims and survivors of GBV, offices for staff, children’s room, male and female washrooms.