WOMEN URGED TO STAND FOR THEIR RIGHTS
By Akwasi Osei

December 4, 2003 – (Accra Mail - Accra) A resource person from the UN System Gender Program, Mrs. Susan Osam has called on women to stand up for their rights against all forms of domestic violence.

Mrs. Osam made the call at a public workshop organised by the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service in Accra yesterday.
The workshop marked the ninth day celebration of the 16 Days of Activism Outreach Program on Violence against Women. It was aimed at educating the public, especially women, on issues of domestic violence, its forms, effects and remedies.

Mrs. Osam noted that a greater percentage of violent cases reported at Police Stations are those meted out to women by their male counterparts. She said such abuses infringe on the rights of women.

She stressed that until women take up the bold step to reporte men who subject them to physical, sexual as well as psychological violence, they will continue to suffer the scourge of such dehumanising acts.

She noted that the perpetrators of domestic violence against women always give unacceptable reasons for their acts.

She mentioned that the Heart Foundation among other Non-governmental organisations seek to provide economic support to wives who are abused by their husbands in case their husbands are imprisoned.

She urged married women to seek gainful employment in order to avoid being lorded over by their husbands.

Mrs. Osam identified factors such as male dominance, absence of poor pre-marriage catechesis, polygamy and childlessness as causes of domestic violence against women.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312040737.html