Ghana Marks International Day of Families

Accra, 14 May, 2015: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Global Family Care to hold dialogue on gender and rights of children in families.

The International Day of Families will be observed on 15th May. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1994 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The Day also provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

The International Day of Families has inspired a series of awareness-raising events around the world. In Ghana, a dialogue on gender equality and children's rights within family laws will be held on Friday, 15th May 2015 at Asanka Locals in Osu, Accra. The dialogue will focus on issues of discrimination against women and children, and the need to formulate and implement reforms on family laws to protect women and children from various forms of violence and abuse.

The theme for this year's celebration is: "Men in Charge? Gender Equality and Children's Rights in Contemporary Families". The Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr John Alexander Ackon will be Guest of Honor, while Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe will present the insight on the theme.

The aim of the celebration of the day is to raise concern on issues relating to families as well as the impact of decisions and trends on their wellbeing.

The day is marked in the light that though gender discrimination is illegal in a considerable number of countries, much remains to be done. In 26 out of 143 countries, statutory laws on inheritance differentiate between men and women while in 27 countries (several of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa), women are not allowed to confer their nationality to their children or foreign spouses on equal basis with their male counterparts.

Some major highlights of this year's celebration include violence in the family especially violence against women and children, homicide, female genital mutilation, early and forced marriages, and domestic violence.

The dialogue will also feature a search for strategies and interventions to address violence in the family. It is also a platform to educate families on how to help achieve some family oriented policies which are essential for achieving most goals on the post-2015 development agenda.

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Doris Mawuse Aglobitse

UNFPA Ghana| email: aglobitse@unfpa.org |Tel: 0204545666

Ebenezer Dzabaku

Global Family Care |email: deot71@yahoo.co.uk|0201405578

Doris Mawuse Aglobitse (PhD)

National Programme Analyst

Communication & Res. Mobilisation

United Nations Population Fund

Accra, Ghana

Telephone: +233302746746

Direct line: +233302746749

Mob: +233204545666

Voip Ext 42619