Accra, Feb 21, GNA- Some Member of Parliament went into spontaneous jubilation when the House passed the much awaited Domestic Violence Bill on Wednesday.
Some female Members of Parliament, thrilled at the passage, moved from their seats and shook hands with their male counterparts in an expression of joy over the Bill, which aims at offering protection for women and children particularly from domestic violence.
A shout of over-echoed "No" seemed to boom the Chamber, when the Speaker, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes put the third reading of the Bill to a vote, but the Speaker ruled in favour of the "Ayes" whose response was also very loud.
The Bill has generated much heat since it was presented and read for the first time in Parliament in May 2006, with reactions and counter-reactions of some provisions by Members of Parliament, gender advocates and civil society groups.
Divided in three parts, the first part of the Bill makes provision for the Meaning of Domestic Violence; Meaning of Domestic Relationship; Prohibition of Domestic Violence; Number of Acts which Would Amount to Domestic Violence, Filing of Complaints to the Police, Police Assistance, Arrest by Police and Arrest by Police Officer Without Warrant.
In the second part, provisions are made for Protection Order as Jurisdiction of the Court, Application for Protection Order, Conduct of Court Proceedings, Interim Protection Order, Grant of Protection Order Reference to Family Tribunal and Power to Discharge Protection Order. Part Three of the Bill covers miscellaneous provisions including Relation of Act to Criminal Code, Promotion of Reconciliation by Court, Publication of Proceedings, Criminal Charges and Protection, Civil Claim for Damages, Procedure Rules for Domestic Violence, Regulations and Interpretation.
Among the new clauses of the Bill is the establishment of Victims of Domestic Violence Support Fund, which shall source funds by voluntary contributions to the Fund from individuals, organizations and the private sector; the amount of money that Parliament may approve for payment into the Fund, and any other source approved by the Minister Responsible for Finance.
Moneys of the Fund shall be applied towards the basic material support of victims of domestic violence, tracing the families of victims of domestic violence and for any other matter connected with the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of domestic violence in their best interest.
The moneys shall also be applied for the construction of reception shelters for victims of domestic violence in the regions and districts and for training and capacity building to persons connected with the provision of shelter, rehabilitation and reintegration.
