Stop Violence Against Women; WiLDAF cautions Ave Dakpa residents
The Volta Regional Assistant Programme Officer of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana), Mr. Victor Adevu-Quashie, has cautioned against all forms of violence against women, because the practice does not only constitute the undermining of the fundamental human rights of the victims in the country, but also affects development activities.
Mr. Adevu-Quashie pointed out that frequent reported cases of rape, defilement, forced marriages and other violent practices against women and children, had reached an alarming stage that called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders, because the negative development continues to affect socio-economic development of women.
The Assistant Programmes Officer of WILDAF was addressing a forum at Ave-Dakpa, capital of the newly-created Ave District in the Volta Region, to create public awareness on gender-based violence, particularly, against women and children.
Mr. Adevu-Quashie noted that negative practices perpetuated against women normally resulted in unstable social and economic activities, thereby making women unable to contribute meaningfully towards the development society. He emphasised: “Our women are good domestic directors who must be respected and protected,” and warned against the growing practice where women were used in sexual slavery and trafficking, due to alleged high levels of poverty in the society.
The Adaklu-Anyigbe District Coordinator of the Functional Literacy Programme, Mr. E.K. Soglo, said the exploitation of power by their male counterparts most of the time, leads to aggression against the females, noting that most women, at times, suffer from sexual-related violence, which leads to unwarranted pregnancies, physical injury, trauma, disability, and even death.
Mr. Soglo stressed that the continuous negative practices against women in society should be regarded as a major development challenge confronting the nation, because these practices retard progress, and asked that women be seen as partners in development, and be given the needed support and love. “Women are not enemies, neither are they slaves, but noble and equal partners in marriage and development, and let us stop the discriminative practices, wickedness and aggression against them. This would help us build a peaceful and progressive society that we would all cherish,” he stressed.
The Stool Father of Ave-Dakpa, Togbui Yaoga Sodoke, who chaired the function, noted that it was only when men regarded women as vital partners in development, and not rivals, that the nation would experience a peaceful and healthy society.
Earlier, the 350 participants went through the principal streets of Ave-Dakpa with placards to create awareness on the need to stop violent activities against women in society.
Some of the placards they carried read, ‘We want peace now,’ ‘No militarism in relationships,’ ‘Uphold maintenance at home,’ ‘Stop domestic violence now,’ ‘Your wife is not a slave,’ and ‘Show love to your partner,’ among others.
By Samuel Agbewode, Ghanaian Chronicle, Ave-Dakpa