Accra, Nov. 28, GNA - Ms Afua Adotey, Public Relations Officer of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ghana (FIDA) said on Tuesday that funding for gender based programmes in the country was decreasing and called on the government to increase funds for that. She said funding currently remained the greatest challenge to organizations that advocated for gender issues and stressed the need for national policies on funding of gender programmes. Ms Adotey was speaking at a dinner organized by the Ark Foundation, an advocacy based human rights non-governmental organization with a major focus on protection and promotion of the human rights of women and children.

The dinner dubbed: "Advocates Nite Out" is an annual event organized by the Ark Foundation to encourage networking among women groups in the country and abroad. This year's dinner was organized as part of a programme called: "16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence." The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign organized between November 25 and December 10 every year to educate people on the need to stop violence against women and respect human rights.

Various women activist groups and the sector ministry in charge of women and children's affair were at the dinner to show solidarity with the Ark Foundation

Ms Sarah Mukasa, Director of Programmes at the African Women's Development Fund agreed that funds for women's programmes were decreasing and said it seemed that women's interest had been ignored. She hinted of a forthcoming Aid Effectiveness Conference and called on the women groups to participate to present their challenges and achievements.

Mrs Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, launched a manual on HIV/AIDS and said there was a link between gender and HIV/AIDS and noted that women were more vulnerable to the infection because of their biological make up. Speaking on the theme: Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacle: End Violence against Women," she said the 'Nite Out' was organized to give information to women groups, NGOs, Policy makers and to bridge the gap between women groups and policy makers. Mrs Dwamena-Aboagye expressed her gratitude to all those supporting the course of women empowerment and asked for stronger network between them.