Prioritize gender into mainstream policies in combatting money laundering, organised crimes - Gender Minister
Author: GIABA Network of Journalists
Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dakoa Newman, has called for the integration of gender into policies addressing transnational organized crimes, including money laundering and terrorism financing.
Speaking at the GIABA, ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), Regional Women’s Roundtable Forum on Transnational Organized Crime Risks for Women in West Africa, which is being held from December 17-19, 2024, at the Alisa Hotels in Accra, she highlighted the increasing impact of these crimes on women across ECOWAS Member States.
The 3-day workshop, which will climax Thursday 19th December 2024, seeks to raise awareness on the risks faced by women in relation to transnational organized crime, including the impacts of money laundering and terrorism financing.
The workshop has brought together women’s groups, gender advocates and associations, NGOs and civil society organizations from various circles of ECOWAS member countries.
The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) is a specialized institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as Financial Action Task Force –Styled Regional Body (FSRB) responsible for combating the scourge of Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorist Financing (TF) in West Africa.
GIABA was established by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the year 2000 with the mandate to protect the national economies and the financial systems of member States from abuse and the laundering of the proceeds of crimes.
In her opening statement, Hon. Newman underscored the forum’s significance, describing it as a timely platform for decision-makers and stakeholders to align efforts in combating transnational economic crimes while promoting gender equality.
“Transnational organized crime activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and terrorist financing are on the rise in West Africa.
These crimes disproportionately exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and inequalities faced by women in our societies,” she stated.
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