Ghana Highlights Efforts to Support GBV Survivors at Commonwealth Women's Forum

Ghana has highlighted its efforts to support survivors of gender-based violence by linking healthcare delivery with access to justice at the 2026 Commonwealth Women's Forum in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. The country's experience was featured in a panel discussion on "The Health Sector Response to Gender-Based Violence in the Commonwealth: Evidence for Action." This discussion explored ways to improve survivor support and strengthen accountability in addressing gender-based violence.

Madam Thywill Eyra Kpe, Chief Programme Officer at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, represented the Sector Minister, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the session. She emphasized the importance of medical-legal documentation in ensuring that survivors receive appropriate healthcare while securing evidence for investigations and prosecutions. Medical examinations and police medical forms are critical in bridging the gap between health and justice systems.

Ghana's approach involves collaborative arrangements between health professionals, the police, justice institutions, and social welfare services to provide a coordinated response to gender-based violence cases. These interventions include treatment for injuries, emergency medical care, psychosocial support, and medical-legal services. This comprehensive approach addresses the immediate and longer-term needs of survivors.

The discussions also highlighted the need for stronger institutional accountability and improved partnerships to ensure that survivors are not left navigating fragmented systems in their search for support and justice. The forum examined broader priorities for advancing women's equality across the Commonwealth, including sustainable funding for women's rights organizations and removing barriers to education.

Ghana's participation provided an opportunity to share its experiences and draw lessons from other Commonwealth countries on improving protection systems and expanding access to essential services. The engagements reinforced the importance of placing survivors at the center of national responses to gender-based violence, with coordinated care, protection, and access to justice remaining key to achieving lasting progress.

The Commonwealth Women's Forum also discussed other priorities, such as recognizing unpaid care work, improving women's health, promoting climate justice, and strengthening collective action. These discussions aimed to advance women's equality and address the unique challenges faced by women in the Commonwealth.

By sharing its experiences and learning from others, Ghana can strengthen its support systems for GBV survivors and contribute to the broader goal of advancing women's equality across the Commonwealth. The country's efforts to link healthcare with justice have been recognized as a crucial step in addressing the complex needs of survivors.

Key points

• Ghana emphasizes linking healthcare with justice to aid GBV survivors.
• Collaborative arrangements involve health professionals, police, justice institutions, and social welfare services.
• Discussions highlighted the need for stronger institutional accountability and improved partnerships.