On the 10th of December 2025, CIAUD Ghana’s 16 Days of Activism Program brought together close to five hundred Students of Hilla Limann Senior High School in Gwollu, the District Capital of Sissala West District in the Upper West Region.

As part of Some Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) in including Goal Three, five, Eleven and Thirteen intended to be achieved by 2030, Mr. Gregory Kangkpi, Protection Monitor of CIAUD Ghana, took a prolific turn to sensitize the students on the need to be steadfast and proactive in defending their rights by reporting issues of domestic violence.

He earmarked education as a strong pivot for growth indicating the girl child in particular shouldn’t relent in the efforts to pursue formal education and defend their rights.

“We organized this program as part of our 16 Days of Activism Program, this a period from November 25th to 10th December where series of Activities are organized to mark international Days Relevant to the UN Conventions, so it includes Rights for Women and Gender Based Violence and Human Rights Day and today[10th December ]Marks International Human Rights Day and as Part of Activities of CIAUD Ghana we decided to organize a Sensitization program at the Dr. Hilla Limann Senior High School and we presented topics of Sensitization regarding violence against women and girls, domestic violence and they were talks on human rights”.

Mr. Kangkpi was moved by some questions from Students including a Question about Domestic Violence and abuse of Women in homes.

“Mostly the questions were about how to report abuses but generally there were a lot of questions about issues pertaining to their households, that is at the family level, for instance if their mothers are being abused, how to handle it.”

He encouraged society to protect women because they are most vulnerable in society.

“Women are One of the most vulnerable and need to be protected”. He said.

He urged students to report issues to domestic violence to the appropriate authorities including elders in their communities and the police.

Mr. Gregory Kangkpi outlined the Sustainable Development Goals their topic of discussion and sensitization centered around.

“It cuts accross, we have goal three, goal five, goal eleven and goal thirteen”.

He urged students to desist from misconducts and any other actions that could jeopardize their academic fortunes in life, adding that rights go with responsibilities.

In an interview with Mrs. Joycelyn Enimah, Protection Monitor of CIAUD Ghana after the program, she stated that, Human rights were the turning point for organizing the program.

“We were inspired basically by human rights, we wanted to educate them on their rights, Gender Based Violence so we decided to come together since today is the last day for human rights Activism.”

Mr. Emmanuel Angometer Tetteh, a Protection Monitor of CIAUD Ghana was touched by one aspect of the questions posed to them in line of Sensitization of Students at Hilla Limann Senior High School.

“I was really touched by some aspects of the questions where a student mentioned that if she should go and report or take some actions legally and our homes get broken won’t our parents get separated in the course, but I believe in the saying that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, Justice is what must be served everybody so no matter the consequences, we are in for Justice, We have what we call the alternative dispute resolution now accepted in Ghana and even in our courts so when the issue gets there then we will consider the home breaking aspect, we can then take it out of the court and have an alternative dispute resolution.” Mr. Emmanuel Tetteh Stated.

Madam Susanna Hagbentie Wubonto, Assistant Headmistress in charge of Administration Commended the program.

“This program is a nice one, they came to educate us especially the students on violence and child abuse, just like you saw, it’s welcoming, most of these things happen here, even within the students and like they said, with their parents, domestic violence, they see it almost every day so as we have been educated today, I’m quite sure that we’ll share, they have been encouraged to go home and talk to their parents on domestic violence especially those beating their fathers, I believe some will be able to mediate as students , this is welcoming”. She said.

A concerned student of the School, Wiekana Fridaus spoke at length with Upper West Media Team, during the discussion she outlined some lessons she learnt from the Sensitization program organized by CIAUD Ghana.

“I have learnt that even though I’m a child, I’m a kid of someone, but I can stand for my mother’s right, I can help someone to regain him or her right through this and I have also learnt that every human has his or her own right and as a human being your right shouldn’t be taken away from you”. She Stated.

Several Officers were present to ensure the program was successful including Mr. Stanley To Ang, Jacob Yiriyelle Tizza and Reinfred Kog Tewiir Naaeder all Protection Monitors. Other speakers included Mohammed Dawda – Department of Social Welfare and Community Development (Unit Head, Social Welfare), Madam Susanna Hagbentie Wubonto (Assistant Headmistress, Administration) and
Ms Mathilda Lentuo ( President, Women Peace Circle, Sissala West).

Brief Introduction of CIAUD

The International Committee for Relief and Development (CIAUD) is a humanitarian and development organization working globally to support vulnerable and displaced populations. In Ghana, CIAUD operates in partnership with the Ghana Refugee Board and UNHCR to provide protection monitoring, community engagement, and humanitarian assistance to asylum seekers, refugees, and affected host communities.

CIAUD’s mandate in Ghana focuses on:

Monitoring and reporting on protection issues in refugee-hosting communities

Supporting access to essential services and human rights awareness

Strengthening community structures through focal points and stakeholder collaboration.

Promoting peaceful coexistence between refugees and host populations.

Supporting national authorities with data, assessments, and timely information to guide humanitarian response

CIAUD is committed to ensuring that vulnerable individuals—especially women, children, and persons at risk—are protected, informed, and supported in line with international humanitarian standards.

Source: Upper West Media App