Responding to Sexual Violence, Protecting Survivors and Ending Impunity in Ghana

Violence against women is debilitating and destructive, and is an impediment to the enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of survivors. Globally, it is recognised that violence against women is embedded in the entrenched power imbalances between men and women. This chapter argues that violence against women is a product of the institutionalisation of patriarchy in all its forms and its legitimisation by socio-cultural norms. Ghana has promulgated legislation and adopted policies aimed at addressing the phenomenon. However, as well intentioned and informed as these may be, to effectively contend with violence against women, Ghana needs a more holistic and all-inclusive approach which confronts the cultures of violence by re-examining the ways in which violence is condoned and tolerated by contemporary and institutional attitudes, which protect perpetrators and implicitly endorse impunity. This chapter suggests that a more focused and purposeful adaptation of the criminal justice system to guarantee greater access to justice for victims and the conscious provision of more sustainable support systems for victims of sexual violence could contribute significantly to achieving improved outcomes in Ghana.