Workshop to promote awareness on violence against women

Kumasi (Ashanti) 22nd May '99--

A workshop to create awareness on violence against women for personnel of the security services has ended in Kumasi.

Organised by the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana and sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation the workshop aimed making the participants aware of acts which constitute violence against women and inform them about the readiness of FIDA to provide legal education as well as support the police in prosecuting such criminal acts.

Mrs. Gloria Ofori-Boadu, administrator of FIDA, said violence is a term given to acts that causes or inflicts either pain or injury be it physical, psychological or any act that does not allow full enjoyment of the rights of an individual.

She said the most predominant form of violence against women occur mostly in homes and involve persons closely related to them such as husbands, lovers, parents, children, in-laws, or rivals among others

Mrs. Ofori-Boadu said this form of violence takes the form of pushing, slapping, punching choking, stabbing and forcing sexual activity or using violence to control another's behaviour which at times leads to serious injuries or death.

Such acts of violence which are criminal offences and constitute a violation of the human rights of the victims as well as posing health hazards against them, are however not accorded the importance that they deserve because they are considered to be "domestic matters and are handled as such."

The administrator stressed that this is unlawful and unacceptable because acts of domestic violence are damaging and have a lasting impact on the victims.

Mrs. Ursula Adjei, also of FIDA, who spoke on "Intestate law of succession" said in spite of the law, certain families totally take over the property of deceased relatives with impunity leaving surviving spouses and children to their fate.

She called on the law enforcement agencies to investigate such offences and to ensure that accused persons are brought to book to help ease pain, humiliation, anguish and grief of surviving widows and children.

Miss Mariam Gyasi, FIDA administrator in Kumasi, who led discussion on "Marriage dissolution and violence against women", called on women to quickly seek marriage dissolution if they feel their lives are being threatened, since there is a provision in the law to force husbands to look after their children after a divorce.

GRi?/