Violence Against Women
The Central Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), DSP George Appiah Sekyie, has warned those who abuse women, especially those with disabilities, that they would be prosecuted when reported.
He said gender-based violence such as female genital mutilation, widowhood rites, rape, among others, should be stopped otherwise perpetrator would be severely dealt with.
DSP Sekyie made the call at this year's celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Cape Coast on the theme: “Peace in the World Begins at Home; Let's End Gender-based Violence.”
The Day was observed with an advocacy workshop organized by the Cape Coast branch of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) in collaboration with the Gender Center and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly.
The Day is a United Nations (UN) initiative held every December to increase understanding of issues on disabilities and to draw attention of the public to the dignity, rights and well-beings of persons with disabilities
The DOVVSU Coordinator pointed out in addition to physical abuse, there were emotional, verbal, economic psychological and sexual abuses, which were also traumatic for victims.
He asked the disabled not to take advantage of their disability to violate the laws of the land stressing that they are not exempted from being punished if they should fall foul of the law.
Madam Margaret Brew-Ward, programmes director of the Gender Center, a non-governmental organization which aims at reducing violence against women and children, stated that, despite the increased awareness on gender-based violence, women continue to experience violations in alarming numbers.
She said that women with disabilities face peculiar challenges because of their situation, and consequently pleaded society should ensure their protection as their sisters, daughters, mothers, nieces, grandmothers, and other female relatives.
Present at the celebration were members of the sub divisions of GFD comprising the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), Ghana National Association of Deaf (GNAD), Ghana Blind Union (GBU), and Association of Persons and Parents with Intellectual Disability (APPID).
Also present were the representatives of Cape Coast School for the Deaf, Cape Coast Unit for the Blind, Aboom Special Needs School, and other physically disabled persons.