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Lawyer
expresses concern about domestic violence
Mamponteng (Ash), March 20, Ghanadot/GNA
- Madam Eudora Oppong, a legal practitioner in Kumasi,
expressed worry that domestic violence remained a major
human rights issue in the country.
She called for concerted efforts to stop the practice since
it was affecting the socio-economic development of the
country.
Madam Oppong was speaking at the celebration of the Ashanti
Regional 2009 International Women’s Day, at Mamponteng in
Kwabre District on Thursday.
The event, which was on the theme “Women and Men united to
end violence against women and girls, attracted female
teachers, prisons officers, hairdressers, students and
Church members and other stakeholders.
Madam Oppong said violence which could be physical,
psychological, economic, sexual, made some women subservient
to men and prevented them from fully developing.
Madam Oppong called on security agencies to strictly enforce
laws on domestic violence.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. George
Appiah-Sakyi, Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the Domestic
Violence and Victims Support Unit (D0VVSU) in Kumasi, asked
traditional rulers to ensure the abolition of obsolete
cultural practices such as trokosi, female genital
mutilation, widowhood rights against women.
He urged victims of domestic violence to report to the
police and not to consider the offence a family affair.
ASP Appiah-Sakyi advised young women to ensure that they
were legally married before going to stay with their
partners, so that the law could adequately deal with men who
abuse women.
Mrs. Augustina Gyamfi, Acting Regional Director of the
Department of Women of the Ministry of Women and children’s
Affairs, said domestic responsibilities including child
care, were challenges to women and urged men to support
women instead of abusing them.
GNA
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