By Regina Benneh, GNA
Nsawkaw (B/A), Jan.05, GNA – The ActionAid Ghana (AAG) has appealed to stakeholders to come out with policies and stringent laws to end to all forms of violence against women and girls in the country.
Mr Tontie Binado, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of AAG, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) working to promote the interest of women and children made the appeal when he addressed the regional celebration of “16 Days Activism Against Gender-based Violence” at Nsawkaw in the Tain District.
Organised by AAG, it brought together women groups of diverse backgrounds, including; Smallholder Women Farmers’ Movement in the district.
“End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work“, was the theme chosen for the event, which is celebrated annually as part of the international campaign for the elimination of violence against women and girls.
Mr Binado said in their working lives, women went through a lot of harassment and abuses at their work places.
They have been suffering sexual harassment and abuses, receiving low incomes and working in poor and dangerous conditions.
Mr Binado added that most female domestic workers were also subjected to extreme maltreatment, exploitation and at times even to death.
He entreated the general public to report all forms of gender-based violence to the appropriate quarters for perpetrators to be dealt with according to the law.
Madam Grace Afra, the Regional Secretary of Smallholder Women Farmers’ Movement noted that one in every three women had either been sexually or physically abused in her lifetime, adding “such an action is a grave violation of human rights”.
She bemoaned that the situation affected the general well-being of women and prevented them from fully participating in social development activities and decision-making processes at all levels.
Mad. Afra stated that the magnitude of the situation needed an urgent measure to save women, especially the vulnerable ones from violence and sexual abuses for them to enjoy their fundamental human rights.
Mr. George Yaw Ankamah, the Regional Director of the Department of children advised women to be agents of change by showing love and equal treatment towards their maidservants.
He expressed regret that some women who engaged the services of maidservants rather used them as slaves by compelling them to do virtually every household chore and described such a situation as inhuman treatment.
He appealed to women involved in such acts of injustice to stop.
Holding placards with various inscriptions to create awareness on violence against women, the participants marched through some principal streets of Nsawkaw and later presented a petition to Ms. Charity Akua Foriwaa Dwomoh, the District Chief Executive, which was received on her behalf by Mr. Saaka Issah Sadat, the Deputy District Coordinating Director.
GNA
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