Violence Against Women
Source: Joy Online
An educationist is encouraging Ghanaians, especially, police to pay more attention to tackling sexual abuse and other domestic violence issues.
Principal of Saint Monica’s College of Education at Asante Mampong, Christina Sobotie, observed that violence against women continues to rise.
She however lamented that efforts by institutions like the Police Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit receive little support from the citizenry.
Mrs. Sobotie was speaking at a forum organized by the Students Representative Council of the Garden City University College in Kumasi.
In the estimation of the college principal, too many women continue to be marginalized and traumatized while society looks on.
Statistics indicate over 1 million women globally fall victim to domestic violence each year.
Out of the number, 300 thousand suffer specifically sexual abuse.
One in every four women experiences one form of abuse or the other once in her time.
In Ghana, children constitute the other most vulnerable group.
About 110 thousand cases of domestic violence were recorded in 2010 alone.
Mrs. Sobotie blamed culture for society’s hostile attitude towards women.
“Most of the time when such cases go to the police, because they are mostly men, they are treated as if it is nothing, this tells you that Africans are in a male-chauvinistic environment”.
She recommended domestic violent victims should be given more and special attention.
“The issue of domestic violence is a deep-seated activity that goes on in the home. If you don’t give victims free environment to express themselves and talk about it, it has long and far reaching consequences that would be derogatory to their development… They need to have a shoulder to cry on, and somebody to give them counseling and that is the aspect I feel DOVSSU can improve upon the services that presently its been given to victims”. She appealed.
Local NGO, Agape Village of Hope International, and its American counterpart, Sisters4Sisters Incorporated, supported Garden City University College to organize the forum.
SRC Women’s Commissioner, Sharon Bannor, bemoaned extreme sexual abuse on the campuses of the country’s tertiary institutions.
She appealed for support from all stakeholders to address the phenomenon she describes as a canker.
“Concerns over sexual victimization of female college students have escalated”, College campuses are not safe havens but instead has become hot spots for criminal activities”, she stressed.