Expert on violence against women to visit

Accra, July 6, GNA - Prof. Yakin Ert=FCrk, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on violence against women, its causes and consequences, begins an official visit to Ghana on Saturday.

During the visit, the Special Rapporteur will meet with Government authorities, civil society representatives, United Nations officials and individual victims of violence against women, a statement issued in Accra by the United Nations Development Programme in Accra said. It said Prof. Ert=FCrk planned to visit the Greater Accra, Northern Region and Volta regions to gather first-hand information on the question of violence against women in the country.

"The mission will focus on domestic violence and other social and cultural practices that are violent towards women and is meant to assist Government and civil society partner in their efforts to address these human rights concerns," it said.

It said based on information received during the visit, Prof. Ert=FCrk would present a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council containing her findings and recommendations. Ms. Ert=FCrk, Professor of Sociology at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, was appointed Special Rapporteur in 2003.