First Lady opens conference on trauma among women and children

Accra, July 13, GNA - The First Lady, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills on Wednesday said it was time African nations translated the provisions of conventions on violence against women and children into local laws and take concrete actions that would confront the various forms of violence against the vulnerable.

She said even with far reaching legislation, negative practices against women still existed and called for concerted efforts to eradicate or minimize practices that went against the full development of women and children.

The First Lady made the call when she opened a three-day international conference dubbed 93The trauma of abuse of women and children - a societal response" in Accra.

The conference, being organised by the Kumasi-based Juniper Tree Counselling Centre, under the auspices of the Ministry of Women and Children, is being attended by participants from the Ghana Prisons Service Christian and Muslim Organisations, the academia, psychologists and psychiatrists and media persons. The conference would provide a platform for organisations, groups and individuals concerned with women and children's affairs to draw the attention of civil society to the dangers faced daily by women and children from sexual predators.

It would offer an opportunity for participants to asses the legal, social, institutional and cultural support systems for victims of sexual violence and provide participants with skills and knowledge to counsel victims of sexual violence. Mrs Mills observed that abuse of women and children continued to be a significant problem in Ghana. They suffered from assault, defilement, rape, harassment at workplaces, child trafficking, exposure of children to harm, burdensome labour conditions and female genital mutilation.

"These are serious violations of their human and constitutional rights", Mrs Mills said, adding however that 93even though the media are now focusing on these forms of abuse, a lot more still go unreported".

She reiterated Government's commitment to ensure that more women took up decision making roles in Government to act as catalysts to enforce the laws protecting women and children. The First Lady said sustained education could minimise the abuse of women and children.

She assured the conference that Government was willing to partner any organisation to protect the vulnerable in the society, and wished the participants fruitful deliberations and exchange of ideas that would ultimately lead to better lives for women and children in society. 13 July 11