MOWAC to give meaning to Domestic Violence Law

Accra, March 8, GNA - The Ministry of Children and Women's Affairs would soon come out with a comprehensive action plan to ensure proper and effective implementation of the Domestic Violence Law.

The action plan would help draw up programmes that would sensitise people nationwide, draw support from law enforcement agencies and institutions working in the area of counselling, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims and perpetrators through capacity building. Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, said the plan would also provide logistics that would give meaning to the Domestic Violence Law.

Speaking in Accra on Thursday at the launch of a photo exhibition aimed at showcasing 50 years of women's contribution to national development, the Minister said the action plan would, however, require the support of all stakeholders.

The exhibition dubbed: "Women Achievers' Photo Exhibition", it is to honour gallant women who have worked tirelessly and contributed immensely since independence.

Ghana's celebrations for the day under the theme: "50 years of Contribution of Women to National Development," coincided with this year's International Women's Day declared by the United Nations since 1974.

The UN's day is on the theme: "Ending Impunity of Violence Against Women and Girls."

Hajia Alima congratulated gallant women in the country who had contributed immensely to the development of the nation saying "their selfless spirit, sacrifice and dedication have culminated in the benefits which we are experiencing and enjoying today".

"I wish to salute all Ghanaian women for the role they have played and continued to play towards the welfare and development of their families, communities and the nation as a whole."

Touching on the importance of the women's day, Hajia Alima said it "created an opportunity for women to unite, network and mobilise for meaningful change in their lives, the lives of their families, societies and the development of the world at large".

According to her, 90 per cent of the food chain needs of the country were being managed by women. Women had also contributed in food security, crop production and food processing as well as management and marketing of foods.

She said women had assisted in political decision-making at both community and national levels.

Notwithstanding these contributions, the Minister said women continued to face subtle forms of discrimination both in public and economic life.

"This makes it difficult for most women to take advantage of the various opportunities available and combine effectively the reproductive roles with productive roles."

The Minister said the themes of both Ghana and UN for the year were relevant because the most prevalent forms of domestic violence were gender based.

These forms of violence, she noted, had negative, physical, emotional and psychological consequences that affected the well-being of women and children.

The Minister said if the nation wanted to develop holistically in the next 50 years there was the need for all to collectively work to eradicate all forms of violence in the society.

In a welcoming address, Mrs Francesca Pobee-Hayford, Director of the Department of Women, MOWAC, said the photo exhibition was to celebrate the achievement of Ghanaian women who had excelled in education, entrepreneurship, drama, politics, community development, good governance, human rights and arts and science.

She urged the public to offer photographs and information of women who had excelled in their fields of endeavours so that the Ministry would immortalise them and record their life time contributions. Soon after the launch hundreds of women joined a float through the Central Business District of Accra to assemble at the Independence Square for a jamboree.

Some of the placards read: "Include women in the House of Chiefs," Thank You Ghana Parliament for Passing the Domestic Violence Bill", "Women's Rights are also Human Rights," "Stop Child Trafficking," Stop Defiling Our Girls," and "If you educate a woman you educate a nation."