AFAWI aims to empower women and children economically, financially and socially to enable them to live a life of dignity, regardless of where they are from. As part of our work to end violence against women and to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, we carried out case studies in the Kintampo District. We found that the bar owners and hostesses in the area were particularly vulnerable to human rights abuse and HIV/AIDS.
A major cause of their vulnerability was how little they know about their rights, sexual violence and practical HIV/AIDS prevention activities. The information was simply not available to them. This, coupled with limited access to suitable financial services, left the women exposed to mistreatment and HIV/AIDS infection.
There were many hostesses who’ve been sexually abused and as a result, experience interpersonal, social, physical, and psychological issues that may last for many years. Many of the problems experienced by these women and girls will present themselves in primary care settings.
Additionally, organisations such as the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service as well as local social welfare and judicial services were not suitably aware of the issues faced by the women.
To begin to tackle these issues we helped form the District Bar Owners’ and Hostesses’ Rights Network, creating a united group who can fight for the rights of all it’s members. We also launched a program in the Kintampo North District to help educate it’s members so they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to champion their rights. We have requested $159,650.53 from UNIFEM to carry out this essential two year project.
Women's empowerment and development
