MTN Ghana, DOVVSU Launches Campaign to End Digital Violence against Women and Children

MTN Ghana, in collaboration with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, has launched a 16-day campaign to raise awareness about digital violence against women and children.

The campaign, themed “Unite to End Digital Violence against Women and Children,” aims to educate the public about the dangers of online violence and promote a safe digital environment.

Speaking at the launch event at the Police Depot Cluster of School in Accra, Adwoa Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, emphasized the importance of addressing digital violence, particularly against women and children.

We are here today to launch 16 days of gender activism, and we are partnering with DOVVSU to create awareness around digital violence,” she said.

Wiafe noted that digital violence is a growing concern, with many women and children falling victim to online harassment and cyberbullying. “We know about gender-based violence when it comes to physical violence, but now we are beginning to live our lives on the internet, and a lot of that has moved online,” she said.

The campaign targets both boys and girls, with the aim of shaping attitudes and behaviors from an early age. “We are bringing both the boys and the girls together because we believe that for us to be able to address this issue, we have to start talking about it at the early stages where they are forming their attitudes and behaviors,” Wiafe said.

ACP Owusua Kyeremeh, Director of DOVVSU, urged students to use digital space responsibly and avoid cyberbullying.

With a click of a button, we can learn so many skills and at the same time, with the same click one can harm someone, so let’s be responsible in using the digital space,” she said.

Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Gyebi, Director of the Cybercrime Unit, also addressed the students, urging them to be digitally responsible and desist from spreading misinformation and practicing poor cyber hygiene.

The campaign includes inter-school debates, radio and television interviews, and community interactions across the country. The DOVVSU has also set up a one-stop shop where victims can access necessary services at no cost.