Channel rape, defilement cases through legal system

Sunyani, Dec. 5, GNA - Ms. Eudora Oppong, Administrator of Federation of International Women Association (FIDA) on Tuesday appealed to traditional leaders to stop home settlement of rape and defilement cases but rather channel all of them through the legal system.

"Despite the increasing report of sexual abuses documents by law enforcement agencies most abuse cases including rape and defilement are still not channeled through the legal system". She said. She made the appeal at a durbar of chiefs and queen mothers organised by FIDA and Legal Aid Ghana to educate participants on ways of improving women access to justice in the region. She noted with concern that even victims of acute forms of abuses prefer to have their cases settles at homes than reporting them at the appropriate quarters to seek redress.

She said access to justice for majority of women has been very limited due to the high rate of illiteracy among women especially in the rural areas and so do not recognise the consequences of abuses on their health.

She stated that empowerment of women has been recognised as basic human rights which is critical towards eliminating gender inequity adding that women especially need to be fully aware of their rights to enable them access at the appropriate law enforcement agencies. She mentioned child maintenance as another disturbing issue, which leads all other reported cases at FIDA Ghana and stressed that children act has been enacted to reform and consolidate laws related to children to protect their rights as well as regulating matters concerning children.

She said increasing reports of right abused revealed that there is an urgent need to intensify public education on laws governing women right to ensure that they are protected from abuses. Mr. Kwame Twumasi Awuah, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) stated that improving the lives of women has been seem as important aspect of development in the society.

He observed that women experienced all forms of discriminations and abuses as a result of gender inequalities and asked Nananom to review all negative customs that violates women's right.

He urged participants to assist the assembly and chiefs to remove all traditional and cultural barriers that prevent women from accessing justice and are protected from domestic violence.