MPs visit Domestic Violence Unit

Accra, Jan. 31, GNA - An Assistant Commissioner of Police on Wednesday said most defilement cases were not being prosecuted because of various reasons including the inability to pay medical fees to establish a case.

Madam Beatrice Vib-Sanziri, Coordinating Director of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, told the Women Caucus in Parliament that delays in reporting sexual offences and pressure from family members to settle matters at home also resulted in cases not going before the courts.

The police officer was briefing the parliamentarians about the work of the Unit during a visit by the members.

Madam Vib-Sanziri said the Unit was in the process of constructing a complex to serve as a shelter, medical and conference centre among others.

She said there were plans to establish the Unit in all districts, adding that, currently, there were about 63 desk officers nation-wide. Madam Vib-Sanziri said defilement cases were the most commonly reported sexual offences with cases of non-maintenance of children also being quite common.

She said a major problem facing the Unit was a place to serve as shelter for victims, especially abused children while cases were being investigated.

The parliamentarians, led by Mrs Eugenia Kusi, a Deputy Majority Chief Whip, were at the Unit to interact with the staff. They donated a Milo dispenser to the Unit.