Judiciary urged to lead ‘new era of justice’ against gender-based, digital violence
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, chairperson of the Judicial Service Gender Equity Committee Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko said the changing nature of abuse demanded a fundamental shift in how the justice system responds.
The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) has held a high-level dialogue with the Judicial Service as part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, with a focus on emerging forms of online abuse.
The engagement, held at the Law Court Complex on Wednesday, 10 December, brought together judges and key justice sector actors under the theme: “Upholding Rights, Delivering Justice: The Judiciary’s Role in Curbing Gender-Based Violence in Ghana.”
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, chairperson of the Judicial Service Gender Equity Committee Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko said the changing nature of abuse demanded a fundamental shift in how the justice system responds.
She called for closer collaboration among state institutions, stressing that no single agency can, on its own, eradicate gender-based violence (GBV). Stronger partnerships and clearer accountability frameworks, she argued, are essential if survivors are to receive timely protection and redress.
Justice Bernasko highlighted the scale of the problem in Ghana, noting that GBV is not an abstract statistic but a lived reality for countless women and girls.
She cited data indicating that one in three women in Ghana has experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence, reminding the audience that behind each figure is a real person.
Turning to the digital space, she warned that violence against women is increasingly moving online, where it can spread faster and inflict lasting harm.
She pointed to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, online threats, cyberstalking and sustained digital harassment as forms of abuse that are now commonplace, calling on the judiciary to adapt its tools and approaches to meet this “new era” of technology-enabled violence.
The forum formed part of AWLN’s broader campaign to ensure that Ghana’s justice system is not only responsive to traditional forms of gender-based violence but is also equipped to tackle the fast-evolving landscape of digital abuse targeting women and girls.
