Women's activist calls for support for Domestic Violence Bill

Ho, Aug 21, GNA- Mrs Bernice Sam, Director of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on Thursday appealed to members of Parliament and civil society to support the Domestic Violence Bill that is before parliament.

She said passing of the Bill would correct the power imbalance and inequalities in families and society to make women assertive and contribute to decision-making.

Mrs Sam was addressing the opening of a two-day training workshop for some Paramount Chiefs and Queen mothers in the Volta Region. The theme for the workshop is: "Violence Against Women, Children and Property Rights of Spouses.

It is meant to equip the traditional leaders in adjudication of violent cases against women and children.

It is being organised by the CHRI in collaboration with the Legal Awareness Programme (LAP) of Women In Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) and sponsored by the British Council.

Mrs Hilary Gbedemah, Senior legal Advisor of WILDAF, said a study done by the Human Rights Documentation Centre revealed that 33 per cent of women have suffered physical, sexual and psychological violence as against 25 per cent who were threatened or beaten up.

She said about 95 per cent of the perpetrators are men and close relations.

Mama Agblatsu II, Queenmother of Ho-Bankoe, said economic empowerment would be the necessary recipe to stem domestic violence against women and children and that economic independence of women would reduce the high prevalence of domestic violence perpetrated against them.