Women ask government to take action on domestic violence act

Assemblywomen, past and present, widows and people living with HIV/AIDS in the Upper East Region, have called on government to take the needed steps to ensure enforcement and compliance of the Legislative Instrument (LI) on domestic violence.

They expressed worry that since the promulgation of the Act in 2007, women still suffered injustices such as being maimed, suffering physical injuries and broken homes leading to high rates of truancy on the part of children.

This was contained in a communiqué read out by Mrs Bride Apania, Assembly woman, Bongo District Assembly at a forum to commemorate a sixteen-day activism on ending violence on the theme: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World, Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women! Speak Up - Let’s challenge!”

The Communiqué called on the government to initiate moves for the passage of the LI for operation of the Domestic Violence Act 2007 (Act 732) and scale up and strengthen the legal aid agencies such as CHRAG to respond to the plight of victims of violence.

The National and Regional houses of chiefs were also called upon as a matter of urgency to review, amend and abolish harmful cultural practices such as widowhood rites.

The forum, which was organized by Action Aid Ghana, also attracted women organizations such as hairdressers and beauticians, Muslim women and Christian women organizations.