Lack of protection thwarting human rights fight-Joseph Wemakor

 


A renowned human rights activist cum seasoned journo, Mr. Joseph Wemakor has taken a swipe at the state authorities for not doing enough to protect the rights and lives of human cum social rights advocates/activists who are committed to championing causes at perils of their lives daily with the aim of bringing about the desired change.

According to him, advocacy/activism as major tools for change exposes the advocates/activists to greater risks including loss of dear lives in most cases which requires that maximum protection and support are given them by the authorities to guarantee their safety and security in order to continue to deliver on their mandate towards achieving results.

Mr. Wemakor made this known in an interview with Victoria Beeko Danso, host of HB Pulse on Homebase TV, during his appearance to discuss on the topic: “Combating Cruelty against Children 2” on Monday August 29, 2022.  

The gleaming morning show among others seeks to throw more light on the woes of the 7-year-old girl who got brutally abused, tortured and bounded with ropes both hands and feet by his father after she was accused for shoplifting a biscuit from a shop.

The unfortunate incident caused a stir on social media on Tuesday July 19, 2022 and broke many hearts the moment a video footage and photograph accompanied by a powerful caption: “Tied like a lamb to the slaughter“ by the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) went viral.

However, by the swift intervention of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s Department of Social Welfare and Community Development through support of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP) the child was freed from oppression.

When asked by the host what challenges are his outfit battling in the fight against human rights, Mr Joseph Wemakor who doubles as the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) and the Co-convener of the Youth and the SDG3 sub-platforms of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on SDGs in Ghana said: “activism is not an easy task all; it expose us activists to so much risk and if care is not taken and you run out of luck, you might even lose your life in the process. That’s why people like us ought to be protected so we can continue to work to bring about change”.

He further revealed that his outfit often chanced upon gross human rights violations on a daily baisis which ought to be uncovered but due to lack of protection by the authorities, the group could not take action as a result of fear of victimization.   

The HRRG is a vibrant Ghanaian human rights advocacy group with a global reach, committed to ensuring people’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. 

It is made up of young Ghanaian journalists, editors, lawyers, human rights activists, advocates and defenders who are wholly dedicated and committed to helping address issues of human rights violations in Ghana and beyond to bring the country closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source:humanrightsreporters.com

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Photo of a man with amazingly ‘super head’ causes a stir on social media

Image
Many eyes have seen it but are yet to believe. To those who are convinced that God's creature exits on earth with such a weird shape of head have been left totally flabbergasted and worried too.That is human nature; doubting Thomases everywhere. A man whose photo has been making rounds on social media platforms has been the one in the centre of a huge controversy that rendered onlookers astounded and divided. The photograph in question has really created a scene that is of comic relief and over-sensational. The problem per se is not about his facial appearance but borders specifically on the 'caricature' shape of his head coupled with his jaw-jutting chin which has become the point of attraction at all cost.  It appears no amount of words could best describe the shape of his 'Hill-Valley-Hill Head' which looks very sparkling without hairs on it.  But some social media users who caught sight of the photograph have been reacting with varying
Read more

Why Ghana must prioritise establishment of Public Health Emergency Fund to support healthcare delivery

Image
  People and the diseases they carry can be easily transmitted to any location in a matter of hours since we live in a linked, globalized society. Infectious illness epidemics are becoming more common, particularly in developing nations, where they have severe effects on people's health, social conditions, and economies. An epidemic is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of hosts in a given population within a short period of time. Being no respecter of person, an epidemic disease can affect both young and old of the society. The world since its creation has encountered several kinds of epidemics which have claimed many lives and caused great devastations to nations of the world. In the last century for instance, the world has been hit by six (6) different kinds of epidemics with devastating results on its economy, people’s health and social conditions. Between 1918-1922, Russia was unfortunate to have been hit hard by Typhus, (a fever caused by bacteria that are spread t
Read more

Video: Saving lives, contributing to achieving SDGs; the success story of Human Rights Reporters Ghana

Image
  In a bid to help end the kidnappings as well as the burgeoning human rights and social issues in Ghana and beyond, the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) in 2019 embarked on a ‘Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on Kidnapping, Teenage, Pregnancy and Tramadol/Drug Abuse’ (KTT). The campaign, popularly known as the ‘KTT Project’, focused on addressing issues of kidnapping, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse but equally set about creating a deeper education on human rights to bring about a cultural change. The ‘messiah initiative’ which saw a dedicated team of young volunteers in communities, schools and religious settings within three regions of the country managed to reach over 60,000 Ghanaians over two years sensitizing them on the most pressing and critical and social issues Ghana is facing.   HRRG team of volunteers The HRRG is a non-governmental organization (NGO) which brings together journalists, news editors, human rights activists, advocates, defenders and lawyers to advan
Read more