info@businessghana.com
Dr. Sarah Baffoe, a Member of the Committee on Women Facing Crises of the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FIGO), has applauded many homes for stopping indiscriminate beating and abuse of children, especially girls.
She also praised Ghanaian parents and teachers for taking interest in educating children to become conscious about human rights violations.
Dr. Baffoe, also a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist was, however, not happy about the spousal and other gender-based violence that was reported to the hospitals and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVSU) on a daily basis.
These abuses, mostly directed at women and girls did not augur well for the country's drive to achieve the sustainable development goals, and the equal society envisioned.
Dr Baffoe told the Ghana News Agency, in an interview, on the sidelines of a conference on "Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls," part of the 16 days of activism on Violence against Women and Girls
Women and girls suffer abuses in the form of rape, spousal beating, non-maintenance, child neglect and even murder among other inherent cultural practices.
Dr. Baffoe encouraged men not to turn their God given strength on their wives, girlfriends and sisters who were created side by side with them to complement social development but rather advance the course of women for Inclusive growth.
Dr. Nana Esi Gaisie-Tetteh, a child development expert said globally some 38 percent of women were murdered by intimate partners.
She said patriarchy, social norms, stereotypes, conflicts and instability were contributing factors to preventable violence in society.
Dr. Gaisie-Tetteh said it was shameful for women to be subject of abuse and advocated policies and laws that promote, prevent and protect against violence to break the generational cycle of abuse.
Mrs. Vida Oppong Badu, the Western Regional Clinical Psychologist, said intimate partner violence was most pervasive. "Such abuses had resulted in nightmares, depression, anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, chronic stress, strokes and suicidal thoughts."
She encouraged women to learn self-defense skills, keep a record of a confidant for swift help and always plan and escape abuse before it turned bloody.
Mr. Ato Amissah Assan, Mediator with Legal Aid, called for the passage of the Property Rights of Spouses Bill to encourage more women to take bold decisions in the cases of abuse.
He also called for proper training of all the different personnel involved in the handling of the abused persons so that the abused would recover properly and be reintegrated into society successfully.
