PRIORITY AREA 2: EQUALITY AND NON – DISCRIMINATION
Our aim is that by 2030, states and corporations are adopting and implementing human-rights consistent laws, policies and practices that address and prevent the root causes of inequality, effectively combat all forms of discrimination, and provide human rights protections to those affected by the climate emergency.
OUTCOME 2.1. PROMOTING GENDER, RACIAL, AND INTERSECTIONAL JUSTICE
States have laws, policies and practices in place that advance substantive equality and public participation for those otherwise 2 The term “race” should be understood in a broad and inclusive manner, in line with the definition of racial discrimination in international standards. Intersectionality is a recognition that structural discrimination, for example based on sex, gender, race, class, caste, disability or other prohibited grounds, does not operate in isolation; individuals may suffer additional or unique forms of discrimination due to a combination of different forms of discrimination they are subjected to. For more information, see Amnesty International internal document
Decoding Intersectionality: Introducing how an intersectional approach improves our human rights work,
AI index POL 40/4019/2021, subjected to multiple, intersecting forms of discrimination, and dismantle systems of oppression and promote justice for those who have been historically affected non-discriminatory enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights is increased; prevention of and protections from racism, gender-based violence and other hate crimes is strengthened and human rights-consistent measures are adopted to promote public participation of marginalized groups. Particular attention is given to women and girls, including women and girls from racialised communities, indigenous women and girls, women and girls with disabilities, and women and girls facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
ACTIVITIES IN GHANA
SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN
The SGBV campaign focuses on raising public awareness, advocating for stronger laws and policies, and enhancing support systems for survivors. By conducting educational workshops, leveraging media platforms, engaging with policymakers, and partnering with local organizations, the campaign aims to foster a society that is informed, responsive, and intolerant of SGBV.
Through these efforts, we strive to ensure that victims receive the support they need and that perpetrators are held accountable, ultimately working towards a safer and more equitable environment for all.
OBJECTIVES
- SGBV HRE training for at least 1000 individuals (students, members and community members) per annum.
- Raise awareness about SGBV.
- Support survivors with comprehensive services.
- Advocate for stronger laws and policies.
- Engage men and boys in prevention efforts.
- Empower women and girls to assert their rights.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
- Increased public awareness and rejection of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) through sustained education and advocacy campaigns targeting youth, students, and local communities.
- Strengthened legal literacy and reporting capacity among women, girls, and at-risk groups, enabling more survivors to seek justice and support.
- Improved responsiveness of school authorities, community leaders, and local institutions in preventing and addressing SGBV, especially in educational and informal settings.
- Enhanced collaboration with civil society, legal aid providers, and state actors to ensure better enforcement of the Domestic Violence Act and related legal protections.
- By 2030, more survivors will be empowered to report cases of abuse, stigma will be reduced, and state accountability in addressing SGBV will be visibly stronger, especially within schools and vulnerable communities.
WITCHCRAFT ACCUSATIONS
Amnesty International Ghana is actively addressing the issue of witchcraft accusations, which continue to fuel violence and discrimination—particularly against elderly women. Our activities include organizing public forums like
Branded for Life
where survivors, stakeholders, and policymakers engage in dialogue and awareness-building. We also hosted X Space discussions to broaden public engagement and national awareness. Currently, we are working to support the reintroduction of a private member’s bill in Parliament that seeks to criminalize witchcraft accusations and protect victims. Our objective is to ensure the bill progresses through the full legislative process to final passage and presidential assent, securing lasting legal change. The witchcraft accusations campaign in Ghana has been centred around raising public awareness, securing justice for the people accused and making the community more open for reintegration.
OBJECTIVES
- Raise awareness about the issue of witchcraft accusations and its impacts on vulnerable people.
- Support survivors of through dialogue and awareness-building activities, such as public forums and online discussions.
- Advocate for legislative change by supporting the reintroduction of a private member’s bill in parliament that seeks to criminalize witchcraft accusations and protect victims.
- Ensure the bill progresses through the full legislative process to final passage and presidential assent, securing lasting legal change.
- To make the community more open for reintegration of those accused of witchcraft.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
- Greater national awareness and public condemnation of witchcraft accusations as a form of gender-based violence and human rights abuse, driven by targeted advocacy, survivor storytelling, and media engagement.
- Strengthened collaboration with lawmakers, civil society, traditional authorities, and the public to support legislative change and protection for affected women.
- Increased legal and social support for victims of witchcraft accusations, including access to shelter, psychosocial care, legal aid, and reintegration programs.
- Improved accountability for perpetrators through monitoring, reporting, and pressure on law enforcement to act on witchcraft-related violence and abuse.
- By the end of the strategic period, the President of Ghana will have assented to the bill criminalizing witchcraft accusations, marking a critical step toward eliminating impunity and upholding the dignity and rights of all women at risk.
OUTCOME 2.2. STRENGTHENING ENJOYMENT OF RIGHTS TO HEALTH, HOUSING AND SOCIAL SECURITY
States are taking concrete measures to uphold the rights of everyone – without discrimination – to health, housing, social security as key drivers of equality – maximising investment of available resources, removing discriminatory barriers protecting the rights of people from deleterious practices of corporate actors and adopting taxation measures that deliver on their human rights obligations.
ACTIVITIES IN GHANA
Menstruation is a natural and fundamental aspect of the female experience, yet many vulnerable women and girls in underserved communities in Ghana continue to face significant challenges in managing their periods with dignity and without financial burden.
The classification of menstrual hygiene materials, such as sanitary pads, as luxury items under the VAT Act ,2013, (Act 870) & Customs Act, 2025 (Act 891) is a key contributor to this problem, creating an unnecessary barrier to accessing these products and perpetuating gender inequality.
Amnesty International Ghana’s effort is to continue advocacy and public education on menstrual hygiene management and the need for complete tax exemption on sanitary products for women and girls. Through this campaign we also call for the need for proper hygienic facilities in various schools and communities for women and girls. Period poverty and lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities has a direct impact on school retention girls of school going age.
OBJECTIVES
- Advocate for the complete tax exemption on sanitary products for women and girls.
- Promote proper hygienic facilities in various schools and communities.
- Raise awareness about the impact of period poverty and lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities on school retention among girls.
- To continue public education on menstrual hygiene management and its importance gender equality.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
- The Government of Ghana will have adopted and implemented a policy for full tax exemption on menstrual hygiene products, making sanitary pads more accessible and affordable for all women and girls, especially those in low-income and marginalized communities.
- Increased public awareness and social mobilization around the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly among youth, students, and vulnerable communities.
- Strengthened capacity of youth leaders, educators, and local actors to identify, report, and respond to SGBV cases in schools, communities, and institutions.
- Expanded collaboration with government agencies and civil society to advocate for enforcement of gender-protection laws and policies, including the Domestic Violence Act and related legal frameworks.
- Improved reporting mechanisms and survivor support systems through referral partnerships and training of rights defenders and peer educators.
- By 2030, there will be a demonstrable shift in public attitudes towards SGBV, increased reporting of cases, and stronger institutional accountability in addressing violence against women, girls, and marginalized gender groups.