The Haggling Over Domestic Violence Continues

May 2, 2005 - (Public Agenda - Accra) A domestic relationship could be defined as an association among a group of people at the same place permanently. Examples of people in a domestic relationship could include people who are or were married, engaged, living together, have had or are expecting a child together, (including a foster child), and people who are related to one another including parents.

House helps and people who provide refuge or shelter for others could also be within the scope of domestic relationships.
Violence that normally occurs among these groups of people is termed as domestic violence. Domestic violence although a major human rights violation in Ghana, is said to be prevalent as research shows that it cuts across all sectors of society and all age groups as well as sexes.

Statistics reveal that over 90% of the victims of domestic violence are women and children. Violence in the domestic situation could take many forms. The era of customary law appears to permit the right of punishment for husbands in some ethnic groups. It has led to a prevalence of wife beating in some communities.

In the home setting for instance, house helps, the aged, sick and physically handicapped members may be abused. A recent national study on violence revealed that one in three women interviewed had been physically abused by a current or most recent partner.

This situation is regarded as detrimental to victims and society as a whole. Until recently, domestic violence was not given the needed attention although Ghana has signed, ratified and adopted several international documents on conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Violence Against Women and the one on the Rights of the Child.

Over the past three years, the issue of domestic violence has attracted all kinds of debates in Ghana. Campaigners are of the opinion that the law in Ghana currently is inadequate in dealing with domestic violent crimes, and are therefore calling for a legislative instrument that is expected to remedy all these anomalies.

Proponents believe it could contribute significantly to sensitize victims on subjects that constitute domestic violence and institutions responsible for handling such cases. The drafted bill therefore defines domestic violence to include any threats or acts of physical, emotional or verbal harm that take place within a previous or existing domestic relationship.

Expected to come under consideration by Ghana's parliament is the domestic violence bill to provide legal framework for dealing with domestic violence. The bill is purposely targeted at improving the situation of women and children who are frequent victims of domestic violence. The issue of domestic violence is gradually becoming a social evil considering the number of complaints of abuse and assault cases reported at the Women and Juvenile Unit of the Ghana Police Service and other institutions that deal with such issues. Deaths have sometimes occurred and the need for special protection has become necessary.

Many non-governmental organizations have in the last few years been advocating for the domestic violence bill to be passed. The campaign was intensified in the 2004 election year but was not forwarded to parliament by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs despite pressure from the campaigners. The issue has since attracted much criticism. But the Ghanaian society in which culture often plays a major role, has subjected proponents of the bill to various criticisms.

Even the church, which is expected to protect the rights of members have not lived up to the task. So many biblical scholars in the past have made statements about women that turn to push them to the background. One of such men of God is John Knox, (1505-1572), who said, "Woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man'. Again thirteenth century theologian Thomas Aquinas stated, "the woman is subject to the man, on account of the weaknesses of the nature, both of mind and the body. Man is the beginning of woman and the end, jus as God is the beginning and the end of every creature'.

The contribution of the church towards ensuring the rights of people could not be overlooked since it is the core of the family. It is in this light, that a forum was held in Accra, to bring Christian leaders from churches together to discuss the draft Domestic Violence Bill, which seeks to address the gaps in the current legislation. They also examined related issues of gender in relation to Christianity. It was organised by the Ark Foundation Ghana, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on women and children's rights protection. The inter-church leadership forum brought together leaders in the church who are involved in counseling and other activities that border on human relations.

The Executive Director of Ark Foundation, Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, said such forums are much needed because most of the victims of domestic violence and gender inequality are Christians. "Everything about gender is a big challenge which Christians must get involved in because gender refers to the home', she noted.

The Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies, Esther Offei-Aboagye, who presented a paper on gender and Christianity, noted that the topic is frightening and vast. Therefore, she said gender issues should not be isolated from relations between sections of the population such as ethnicity, marginalization and vulnerability. Ms Offei-Aboagye noted that gender should not only be related to women as all persons are entitled to have life and have it abundantly. "All must be supported to have access to things they need equitably and efficiently. It is imperative to do so to equip them to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country'.

She recounted that issues of gender are not static but dynamic, as roles that men folk used to play have changed. These, she said are influenced by age, education, religion and political affiliation. She decried the instance of stereotyping women in certain situations, saying that it does not give them the opportunity to progress. Ms Offei-Aboagye explained that gender and Christianity have certain tenets such as equality, equity and empowerment in common; therefore Christianity and promoting gender equity should not be contradicted.

The church leaders who participated at the forum admitted that even though the church is the only means by which the world could be liberated, it has not lived up to its task, as biblical teachings are normally not related to life. They held the view that the church should become a louder voice to effect the transformation needed otherwise, the laws passed will not make any impact. They also advised the women to take their own initiatives and wait to be approved by the men. The leaders emphasized the need to build the lives of people rather than cathedrals. They also resolved to influence sermons in their denominations to include issues on gender and domestic violence.

A representative from the National Coalition of Domestic Violence, Adolf Awuku Bekoe, noted that the state's response to fighting violence at the home has not been effective because there are efforts to protect the home, but are only fighting violence on the streets. To him, domestic violence is a manifestation of unequal power relationships and called for the need for a legislative framework to help deal with the problem.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200505030370.html