Mar 20-2026

As part of activities marking International Women’s Day, H.E. Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah participated in a luncheon dialogue hosted by the Ambassador of Brazil in Berne, which brought together several female ambassadors and distinguished women leaders in the Swiss Confederation. The discussion focused on the theme “Domestic Violence.”

Domestic violence remains a global challenge affecting women and girls across many societies, including Switzerland. During the dialogue, Her Excellency joined participants in reflecting on the importance of empowering women as a key strategy to address this issue. It was emphasized that women must have the freedom to participate fully in democratic processes, access quality education and healthcare, enjoy equal opportunities in employment and benefit from strong legal protections and economic empowerment.

Her Excellency noted with interest that the Swiss women’s rights movement has existed for over 125 years, yet women were granted the right to vote at the national level only in 1971, while neighboring Liechtenstein introduced women’s suffrage in 1984. This provided an opportunity for her to highlight Ghana’s own progress since independence in 1957, particularly the early efforts led by Kwame Nkrumah to promote women’s participation in national development.

Participants also agreed that in advancing women’s leadership and participation in higher education and public life, men must not be left behind, as inclusive development requires the cooperation of both women and men.

Her Excellency further congratulated Swiss women on recent progress regarding the decoupling of spouses’ income for taxation purposes - an important reform that supports women’s participation in the workforce and promotes economic independence.

The dialogue emphasized the importance of educating young people from an early age on issues related to gender equality and respectful relationships. Switzerland’s system of shelters and counselling centres for women and girls experiencing abuse was also highlighted as an important support structure, offering useful lessons for other countries.

It was a pleasure for Her Excellency to exchange perspectives with colleagues from Brazil, Croatia, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Denmark, Cape Verde and Cuba, whose brother currently serves as an Ambassador in Ghana.

Such engagements continue to strengthen the collective commitment to building societies where women and girls can live in dignity, safety and equality.