A Call to Act - Health Policy Initiative

ANNEX D: PRESS RELEASE FOR WORKSHOP ON GBV AND HIV
Africa Women of Faith Network (AWOFNET)-Ghana Chapter
Ghana Conference of Religion and Peace (GCRP)
August 12, 2008
To All the Media Houses (Print and Electronic)
Subject: Workshop on Gender-Based Violence and HIV
The HIV pandemic has had devastating effects on humanity. Most statistics point to the fact that women
are mostly affected and constitute over 60% of HIV infected persons in Africa. The phenomenon is
alarming as women play very vital roles in sustaining humanity. A lot of research has also pointed out to
the fact that women experience various forms of violence which leave them with very little power to
make decisions about their lives. Women’s inability to make firm decisions have contributed to the high
rate of the HIV pandemic as gender-based violence is experienced by over 33% of women in Ghana
(Dorcas Coker- Appiah and Kathy Cusack).
In July 2008, some religious leaders and some members of faith-based organizations (FBOs) met in
Nairobi, Kenya to deliberate on the increase of gender-based violence and its relationship with the
increase of HIV in Africa. Ghana was a participant at the workshop. A resolution was adopted at the
workshop mandating each national Chapter of the FBOs and Women of Faith network to organize a
gender sensitization/training workshop to discuss the issue of GBV and HIV.
In view of the above, the African Women of Faith Network Ghana Chapter (AFWONET-Ghana) in
collaboration with the Ghana Conference of Religion and Peace (GCRP) has the pleasure of inviting three
representatives from the Ahmadiyya Council to participate in a three (3) days’ workshop on the topic:
Gender-Based Violence and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The workshop is scheduled to take place at the
Ghana Registered Nurses Association from August 26-28, 2008.
Participants will comprise decision-makers from the nine (9) religious/faith-based organizations in Ghana
such as the Christian Council of Ghana, The Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference, The Muslim Council,
The Council of Independent Charismatic Churches, The Council of Apostolic Churches, and The
Independent African Traditional Religions, etc.
Purpose of the Training
To provide a forum for faith-based organizations and AWFONET to understand the concept of gender
and mainstream it in the religious programs in Ghana
Objectives:
• Come to a common understanding on the link between gender and HIV
• Jointly analyze what FBOs in Ghana are already doing in terms of gender: policies, activities, etc
(mapping);
• Reflect on gender mainstreaming as a concept, and how it would work in practice in the FBOS
and particularly among African Women of Faith Network (AFWONET-Ghana) context; and
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