Parliament asked to pass Domestic Violence Bill into law

Sogakope, Oct. 17, GNA - Gender experts on Friday urged Parliament to pass the Domestic Violence Bill into law to ensure the elimination of violence against women.

The experts also urged the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), to lead the ongoing education and consultation on the Bill in collaboration with the National Coalition on domestic violence legislation.

This was contained in a five-point communiqu=E9 issued at the end of a four-day workshop to review and finalise the Ghana National Plan of action for women, in Sogakope.

The plan would addresses critical areas, which include women and poverty, education, health, decision making, media, environment, violence, human rights, armed conflicts, girl-child and institutional set-up.

The communiqu=E9 also stressed the establishment of a multi-sectoral body representing all relevant and responding institutions to initiate comprehensive strategies in line with the plan of action for addressing violence against women.

The gender experts called for equal access to and full participation of women in decision making and power structures, urged government to state its position on the 1998 Affirmative Action Policy and to take a clear direction on its implementation.

The communiqu=E9 said "Government should also establish a data base on issues affecting women in all sectors in collaboration with the Statistical Service and other specialised agencies". The experts also asked the authorities to identify gaps in existing legislations and initiate action plans for review and enactment of new laws.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of MOWAC, in a speech read for her, said there was the need to train women in various capacities to enhance their performance.

"When women are economically empowered through good income generating activities, they become better placed and support the society."

She noted that the process of empowering women and developing their potentials was constraint by numerous challenges adding that "it is up to us as lead agents and advocates to rise up to that challenges". 17 Oct. 03