Teachers trained to combat violence against women

Tamale, Sept. 1, GNA - Mr Daniel Afropong, a member of the Steering Committee of CIVITAS Ghana, an NGO, has said that economic and social dependence of women on men had placed men at an advantageous position, allowing some of them to perpetrate violence against women. He noted that the lack of financial independence is a major cause why most women stay with their spouses even after they have "mentally" chosen to leave when men perpetrate violence against them. "Choices mean nothing to most women if they have to look after more than themselves or worse still, if they are scared about losing their means of maintenance".

Mr Afropong who was addressing a "training of trainers workshop" for 20 teachers and legal practitioners to promote and defend women's rights as human rights in Tamale on Saturday, called for the economic empowerment of women "to save them from the shackles of men". The one-day workshop organised by CIVITAS Ghana, was on the theme: "Combating Violence Against Women-A focus on Men".

The forum, which was sponsored by the "Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)" aimed at sensitising and teaching men in male-dominated occupations such as carpentry, masonry, fitting and driving, about women's rights.

Mr Afropong said violence against women had persisted because the perpetrators usually went unpunished and attributed this situation to cover ups, backlash under culture and failure or refusal of the law enforcement agencies to take action because they themselves had been guilty of violence.

Dr Ken Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) and a member of the Steering Committee of CIVITAS Ghana, said violence against women was a violation of the constitution. He said the country's democracy, which recognizes the rights of women would fail if it were not practised in the individual families and in the communities.

In a press statement, CIVITAS Ghana said the involvement of men in the process of effecting change in societal attitudes toward women was necessary to reduce violence against women.

The NGO said it was using workshops, lectures, role-plays, and group discussions and problem solving methods to educate "blue colour" workers in the Greater Accra, Northern and Western Regions. It has targeted 400 artisan groups in these regions and 12,000 others throughout the country.

The statement urged men in male-dominated occupations to be more sympathetic to the rights of women and also appreciate their own human rights and stand up to defend them.