Every year on 10th December, the world celebrates International Human Rights Day, a reminder of the universal rights and freedoms that belong to all people.

This year, KNUST joined the global commemoration by spotlighting one of its newest and most significant additions: the Gender Inclusion and Vulnerability (GIV) Office, established on 1st November 2025 and located at the KNUST Library Mall.

The office has been created to strengthen accountability, dignity, fairness, and equal opportunity within the university community. It represents KNUST’s constant commitment to fostering a campus environment where everyone regardless of gender, disability, or background feels seen, supported, and empowered.

According to Prof (Mrs) Mercy Badu, Head of the GIV Office, the initiative is an important step in bridging long-standing gaps.

“The office was created to provide a safe space for both staff and students, and to bridge the gender gap in academia. We want to ensure that all individuals feel protected, respected, and able to fully participate in higher education,” she said.

As the world marks Human Rights Day, Prof (Mrs.) Badu expressed the University’s excitement to be part of a global movement advocating for expression, inclusion, and equality.

“Human rights mean giving everybody the opportunity to express themselves without being looked down upon. We want the university community to know that this office is open, welcoming, and ready to support all,” she added.

The celebration also highlighted real-life testimonies from a past student who have benefited from the university’s inclusive structures. We spoke to Divine Yennuloom Jawam, a past student with a disability and a beneficiary of multiple institutional support systems.

Divine, who grew up in a home with 27 children, shared how access to support changed her life.

“I had the opportunity to receive a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship to pursue my undergraduate programme. It covered my tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends. Coming from such a large family, it would have been difficult for my parents to sponsor my education. Without Mastercard, I wouldn’t have been able to study at KNUST”, she shared.

She expressed deep gratitude for the university’s strong commitment to students with disabilities.

“I thank KNUST for the strong support system they always bring on board to help persons with disabilities like me.”

Now serving as a National Service Personnel at the newly established GIV Office, Divine emphasized how transformative the space has already become.

“This office has made KNUST more inclusive. It feels like home, a safe place we can walk into and share our challenges, especially when our parents are not here with us.”

As KNUST joins the global community to mark International Human Rights Day, the message is clear, whether abled, disabled, or living with any form of limitation, everyone deserves dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

Story: Abena Serwaa Gyamfi Photos: Photos: Isaac Kwaku Duah