The project began with a series of workshops designed to educate women and girls on their human, legal, and gender rights. Over three workshops, HRAC engaged 263 participants constituted mainy by women and girls. These sessions focused on Ghana’s constitutional provisions, international laws on gender rights, and specific protections for GBV survivors. Participants were guided on how to recognize abuse, understand their legal protections, and utilize existing reporting mechanisms and support services. Pre- and post-evaluations demonstrated remarkable improvement in participants’ understanding of their rights and an increased willingness to report GBV cases.

To further amplify the project’s reach, HRAC developed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, including 150 flyers and 50 posters. These materials provided easily digestible information on GBV and reporting resources, ensuring that the message could reach a broader audience even beyond the workshops.

An integral part of the project was the development of a GBV Toolkit. HRAC contracted a consultant to create this comprehensive training manual for Human Rights Focal Persons. The toolkit was validated during a virtual stakeholder meeting, with feedback incorporated to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. The toolkit serves as a resource for continuous education and a guide for focal persons to assist GBV survivors with initial support and referrals.

A notable innovation of the project was the introduction of Human Rights Ambassadors. HRAC recruited and trained 20 ambassadors from the Accra South Baptist WMU to act as focal persons within their communities. These ambassadors are tasked with scaling up awareness creation, providing first-line support to GBV survivors, and referring cases to appropriate reporting channels. Their role is pivotal in ensuring the sustainability of the project’s outcomes.

HRAC also collaborated closely with the participating churches to develop action plans for integrating GBV education into their program calendars. The churches expressed a strong commitment to sustaining these efforts by establishing human rights committees to manage cases and provide support services. These committees will consist of approachable and receptive members, fostering an environment conducive to reporting and addressing GBV.

The project’s advocacy efforts were deliberately aligned with the core beliefs of the church to ensure resonance with the audience. Biblical scriptures were incorporated into discussions to avoid alienating participants, while an experienced facilitator from WiLDAF used creative methods to engage the audience. Through practical illustrations, relatable examples, and real-life GBV cases, the facilitator encouraged participants to dismantle harmful stereotypes and take action against GBV. A short documentary featuring a GBV survivor’s testimony further deepened participants’ understanding of the issue, eliciting passionate responses and a strengthened resolve to support survivors.

This collaborative project has laid a solid foundation for sustained GBV education and advocacy within the target communities. By equipping Human Rights Ambassadors with the GBV toolkit and fostering institutional support through the churches, HRAC has created a model for addressing GBV that can be scaled to other regions. Moving forward, HRAC plans to seek additional funding to expand the project’s reach beyond Accra and leverage the insights gained as a pilot for broader implementation.

Through its innovative and community-centred approach, HRAC has empowered women and young girls with the knowledge and resources needed to combat GBV. By fostering partnerships, building capacity, and aligning with community values, the project has made significant strides toward creating safer and more inclusive environments for all.