A leading advocate of the Young Feminist Project, Ms Bashiratu Kamal, has strongly dismissed arguments suggesting that victims of sexual harassment provoke abuse through their dressing or physical appearance.
She stressed that individuals have the fundamental right to dress in a manner they consider decent and appropriate for different social occasions, without fear of harassment or victim-blaming narratives.
Ms Kamal made the remarks during an engagement with General Agricultural Workers and students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi. The session formed part of activities under the Young Feminist Project implemented by the Centre for Social Justice with support from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
The project seeks to challenge misconceptions about feminism, strengthen young feminist voices—particularly on social media—and promote policy reforms aimed at achieving gender equality.
She explained that sexual violence and harassment can affect anyone regardless of gender, and called for stronger preventive systems, effective complaint mechanisms, and strict accountability for perpetrators.
Ms Kamal further emphasised the need for comprehensive approaches to addressing gender-based violence, including tackling structural inequalities, strengthening advocacy, improving institutional policies, and ensuring proper support systems for survivors.
Project Coordinator at the Centre for Social Justice, Ms Erica Adwoa Yeboah Ajei, noted that this year’s programme adopts an intersectional approach aimed at addressing harmful social norms, power imbalances, and economic inequalities that reinforce gender-based violence.
She explained that the initiative also seeks to confront systems that undervalue women’s paid and unpaid labour while deepening inequalities linked to gender, class, age, ethnicity, and other social factors.
According to her, strengthening youth-led feminist movements remains key to dismantling harmful practices and advancing gender justice and equality in society.
