Yaa Kpodo: Gender-based violence undermines the principles of equality and human rights
A nursing student from Ghana, Yaa Kpodo acts to improve the lives of girls and young women in her country by campaigning for gender equality.
Yaa Kpodo is a 20-year-old from Ghana who wants to make the world a better place for girls and women. To this end, she has started an organisation called the Femishare foundation, which supports girls and young women, encouraging them to take up leadership positions and earn their own incomes.
Yaa Kpodo wants to see a world where girls and young women, regardless of background, disability status or political or religious affiliation feel safe and respected, and are free from any form of violence or discrimination.
“My name is Yaa Kpodo, I’m a nursing student from Ghana and gender equality campaigner,” she says. “I want to improve the lives of girls and young women in my country.
“I have always dreamt of making the world a better and safer place for women. That’s why I founded an organisation called the Femishare foundation which seeks to empower girls and young women, encourages them to take up leadership positions and earn their own incomes.”
“I advocate for girls’ rights to an education, for the prevention of gender-based violence and to ensure inclusivity for girls in leadership and decision making.”
“I want to see a world where girls and young women, regardless of their background, disability status or political or religious affiliation feel safe and respected and are free from any form of violence or discrimination.”
“I want to see a world where girls and young women, regardless of their background, disability status or political or religious affiliation feel safe and respected and are free from any form of violence or discrimination.”
Yaa Kpodo
“In Ghana, girls are unfortunately affected by gender-based violence in various ways, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse and child marriage.”
Recommendations to combat gender-based violence
Yaa Kpodo’s recommendations to people across the globe in combatting gender-based violence are:
- Raise awareness: Share information about gender-based violence on social media platforms, participate in local community events, and have open conversations with friends and family with the aim of allowing victims to speak up and also provide education in the form of awareness to them.
- Support organisations: Individuals can help reduce and prevent gender-based violence by supporting and donating to volunteer groups and organisations that are active in this field. Since financial instability and poverty can contribute to forced marriages and child trafficking, it is essential to support their work.
- Speak up: If you witness or hear about instances of gender-based violence, don’t hesitate to speak up against it. Offer empathy and understanding to the victims.
- Educate yourself: Take the time to learn about the root causes and dynamics of gender-based violence. This knowledge will help you better understand the issue and engage in informed discussions.
- Promote gender equality: Advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all genders. Challenge gender stereotypes and support initiatives that promote inclusivity and fairness.
Yaa Kpodo says: “It’s important for governments to prioritise the prevention of gender-based violence and to continuously evaluate and improve their efforts. Together, with government support, we can make significant progress in addressing this issue.
“Gender-based violence undermines the principles of equality and human rights. By addressing this issue, we can work towards a society where everyone can thrive, regardless of their gender. It’s about creating a world where everyone is treated equally and with respect. It’s about ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard, their rights are protected, and they can live without fear of violence or discrimination.”
“Gender-based violence undermines the principles of equality and human rights. By addressing this issue, we can work towards a society where everyone can thrive, regardless of their gender.”
Yaa Kpodo
“When we create a world where all are equal, we foster a more inclusive and just society for everyone.”
#FutureGirlsWant
The Future Girls Want campaign aims to amplify Plan International’s advocacy messaging on girls’ rights and equality and get the voices of girls and young people at the forefront of the conversation and in front of decision makers both at the global and national level. This campaign was co-created by young women from the She Leads UN Youth cohort, a group of passionate young advocates that Plan International’s UN Office in Geneva is supporting to engage in advocacy at the international level.
Yaa Kpodo is a young advocate from Ghana, who is a member of the She Leads UN Youth Cohort. The cohort is comprised of 18 young women from Africa and the Middle East, who work together over the course of 1 year, to do advocacy in important international policy spaces such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the Human Rights Council, and the Summit of the Future.
She Leads is a joint programme from Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children – ECPAT the Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), and Terre des Hommes the Netherlands (TdH-NL). Equal Measures 2030 is a technical partner. It is implemented in Geneva and New York by Plan International’s UN Offices in Geneva and New York, as well as partner organisations in those spaces. The She Leads programme, which runs from 2021-2025, and is active in 9 countries across Africa and the Middle East, aims to increase sustained influence of girls and young women on decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.
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