Although existing national legislation protect their rights, lack of knowledge about these laws  inhibits women’s ability to defend their rights and demand protection from duty bearers. The foregoing factors have predisposed and led many women in fisheries into violence abuse and discrimination.

 The Project 

The Women in Fisheries Against Violence (WiFVEs) Project is a three-year (2022 – 2025) project funded by the European Union (EU) which has an overall objective of achieving gender equality in Ghana by advocating against gender-based violence (GBV), abuse and discrimination in Ghana’s marine fisheries sector. The project is being implemented by Hen Mpoano as lead implementing partner and CEWEFIA as implementing partner.

 Project Goal

The WiFVEs project intends to achieve gender equality within Ghana’s fisheries sector by advocating against gender-based violence (GBV), abuse and discrimination, building capacities of fisher folk and their leaders to prevent and respond to GBV in fishing communities, supporting law enforcement against GBV, while improving access to social services and livelihood opportunities by women at-risk and survivors of GBV. Specifically, the results achieved will promote;

a) development and implementation of advocacy actions leading to enhanced public awareness and knowledge of duty bearers on the dynamics of violence, abuse and discrimination (VAD) against women and on harmful social norms in Ghana’s marine fisheries sector;

b) capacity development of women, men, youth and fisher folk leaders in preventing and responding to GBV in Central and Western region fishing communities;

c) enforcement of legislation against GBV in Central and Western region fishing communities by strengthening institutions along the prosecutorial chain;

d) access to care facilities and social services for survivors of GBV in Central and Western region fishing communities and

e) entrepreneurship skills and access to livelihood opportunities for women at-risk and survivors of GBV in Central and Western region fishing communities.    

Key Stakeholders

WiFVEs project works closely with the government of Ghana and relevant stakeholders, groups, including MoGCSP, DOVVSU, GHS, DSW, MoFAD, fisher folk leaders and associations in the central and western region fishing communities in Ghana. 

Location

The WiFVEs will work in 18 marine fishing communities in the Central and Western Regions of Ghana, In the Central Region, the communities include Dago, Mumford, Aakrah, Naikwah, Otuam, Anombo, Biriwa, Dutch Komenda and British Komenda. In the Western Region, the project focuses in 9 marine fishing villages i.e.: Dixcove, Cape Three Points, Akwidaa, Ankobra, Asanta, Ekwei, Ellonyi, Bonyere and Metika.