My name is Lois Aduamoah-Addo, and I come from Ghana in West Africa, where I work with the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF Ghana). Every day, my work brings me face to face with the realities that many women and girls live through—realities that continue to shape my understanding of justice.

To me, justice is not an abstract concept or a distant ideal. It is deeply personal. Justice means equality, empowerment, and security. It is about creating a world where every individual—especially women and girls who are often pushed to the margins—can fully access the rights that already exist within our legal frameworks. These rights should not remain words on paper; they must come alive in the everyday experiences of those who need them most.

Too often, however, justice feels out of reach. I have seen how women and girls, particularly in deprived communities, face discrimination, abuse, and unfair treatment—sometimes at the hands of those entrusted to protect them. In these moments, the gap between policy and reality becomes painfully clear.

But there is also courage. Today, I stand in solidarity with abused women and girls across Ghana who are boldly demanding more. They are not just asking for recognition—they are calling for a world where their rights are respected, protected, and truly realized.

Their voices must not go unheard.

This is why I am calling on the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to act with urgency. We need the expedited establishment of One Stop Shop Shelter facilities across all regions of Ghana. These shelters are not just buildings—they are lifelines. They represent safety, dignity, and hope for women and girls escaping abuse, often from within their own homes.

For many in the most deprived areas, such a facility could mean the difference between silence and survival, between continued harm and the possibility of healing.

Justice must go beyond legislation. It must be felt, experienced, and lived—especially by those who need it most.