The European Union has signed a grant contract of €600,000 (GH¢2 million) with three beneficiary organisations to enable them to promote human right issues and the well-being of children in Ghana.
The act by EU is under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) which is targeted at supporting initiatives and actions aimed at promoting and enhancing the rights and well-being of the child by protecting the child against abuse, exploitation and exposure to harm.
Speaking at the signing, Ambassador Claude Maerten, Head of EU Delegation to Ghana, stated that the general objective of EIDHR was to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms consistent with the European Union’s foreign policy.
He further stated that the instrument was designed to help civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights.
He was hopeful that the beneficiaries would take full advantage and work to enable and ensure that human dignity is not abused through the defence of human rights.
The beneficiaries were Maata-n-Tudu Association based in the Northern Region, International Needs Ghana (INGH), based in the Central Region, and the Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre.
Maata-n-Tudu received €200,000 to run its activities, aimed at protecting and reducing the incidence and prevalence of child rights abuse in the Tamale, Bunkpurugu and West Mamprusi districts.
The INGH also received €150,000 to embark on a project that would promote an enhanced safe and protective environment for children to prevent child abuse and exploitation at Gomoa West, Gomoa East and Effutu Municipality, while Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre is to embark on actions that would promote and protect the rights of adolescent girls in Nkoranza North and Kintampo Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The Executive Director, Gender Studies and Human Rights and Documentation Centre, Mrs Dorcas Coker-Appiah, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the EU for its tremendous support to help protect the rights of the Ghanaian, especially children.
She applauded the funding and called for more of such from other organisations to support government’s effort at building strong institutions, as well as protect and defend the human rights of children.