Women groups demonstrate to mark Day

Accra, March 8, GNA - Some women groups and organizations mainly in Accra on Monday held a route march on some principal streets in the capital to commemorate World Women's Day, which falls today. The day was set aside by the United Nations to create awareness on issues concerning women.

The march was also to seek support for the "Domestic Violence Bill" which would criminalize all forms of domestic violence between spouses. The African Women Lawyers Association, FIDA, Ga District Women, Amnesty International, Ghana, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) among other groups, took part in the demonstration.

The demonstrators, who included a sizeable number of males, carried placards some of which read: " Knock Out The Violence", "Save Women, Save Ghana, Save Communities", "Positive Change Minus Domestic Violence Bill Equals Injustice".

Mrs Dorcas Coker Appiah, President of WILDAF, said the Domestic Violence Bill was not foreign as was being purported, but it would serve as a deterrent to men who might otherwise abuse their spouses.

She said women were able to articulate their own problems, and for that matter, it should not take any foreign concept to make this clear. She noted that although there were laws governing violence in general, they were not enough to deal with domestic violence.

On the fact that this law would break up families, Mrs Appiah said the law should be such that it would rather help families to settle differences rather than tear them apart.

" This is supposed to serve as a deterrent rather than a strict enforcement."

In a related development Amnesty International, Ghana has set aside two years to fight violence against women.

A statement issued by the chapter and signed by its Chairman, Mr Steven Kojo Kuada called for a world in which all churches, traditions, political and judicial systems would regard violence against women as abhorrent.

The statement said: "Violence against women is not normal, legal nor acceptable, and should never be tolerated or justified. It can and must be stopped. It is in our hands to make a difference and to bring human rights home."

The statement called on all to continue to work to counter violence and achieve justice and equality for women and to end abuses by combatants on women in conflict areas. 08 Mar 04