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Breaking the Chins of Violence
Women in Ghana are recognized under law as having equal rights with men in all spheres of life. The 1992 Constitution recognizes equality of all persons before the law and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion, etc.
But fortunately and unfortunately, why I do say so; let me begin by first commending our President, John Agyekum Kufuor, for signing the Domestic Violence Act into Law, This is a step in the right direction. I say unfortunately, because although some interventions have been made in curbing violence against women the issue of male supremacy needs to be addressed because violence against women is one of the results of male supremacy and the low status of women within the family. Male supremacy is supported by social institutions such as marriage, religion and culture whilst these same institutions reinforce women’s low status. Furthermore, when we see women as the complimentary sex it is in a spirit of co-operation. When we see women as being the opposite sex then it is more in a spirit of competition.
This is because most of us were educated by the exploiters and have come to think that manhood has something to do with the domination of our women. Men having power struggles with our women aides the oppressors, it is also very important that women see the necessity of political power because it is; if not the only way to liberation of the people. MEN AND WOMEN ARE COMPLIMENTARY SEXES. The emancipation of the women means the emancipation of the men and the whole society for safer motherhood. This is precisely why we are Men for the Emancipation of Women.
It is very essential if strategies to engender poverty reduction are to be sustainable it is important to recognize unequal gender relations and the structures of power that women confront at all levels in Ghana and how these increase women's vulnerability to poverty.
In sustaining Domestic Violence Law, I recommend that civil society should serve as monitoring and evaluation agents’.
Track cases in court to assess arguments advanced by lawyers and judges
Report periodically on challenges with implementation;
Hold government accountable for the promises made in the law;
Broad based education on the provision of the law – legal literacy;
Simplification and translation of the law at the grass root level.
The Government should fulfill its Commitment of funds to the Domestic Violence Fund in the national budgets.
The law enforcement agencies and judiciary will need training in this sphere.
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Writer Profile
Cyril France
Cyril Nii-Offei France is a Development Management student and the Student Representative Council (SRC) Financial Secretary of Ghana Christian University College (GCUC). Mr. France has been zealous in finding sustainable solutions to local and global maladies. Mr. France had the opportunity to engage in mainstream youth-led development such as attending the West Africa Regional Workshop on Youth in Civic Engagement, sponsored by the World Bank Ghana office and subsequently contributed immensely to the E-Consultation on Youth Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategies hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the World Bank Institute.
Mr. France’s audacious and selfless dedication to serve and lead local communities work out their future in a manner that does not compromise the shared benefits for future generations, impelled him to undertake numerous community-based projects with youth-led organizations such as Global Youth Action Network - Ghana, Youth Realities Network, Youth Action Movement, Student World Assembly, among others. Some achievements from this sphere include, Project Coordinator for the Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) 2008, as the National Lead Agency in Ghana. As a key team player Mr. France has worked on several youth-development committee’s and events such as planning committee member responsible for external liaison during the 3dr Annual Student World Assembly, International Convention in Ghana at the University of Ghana, Legon and the 2007 Jubilee Youth Leaders’ Summit at Kumasi.
Mr. Frances’ notable achievements paved the way for his selection to represent his school and country at the 2009 International Student Festival in Trondheim, Norway, he also gave two separate presentations at the 2008 World Youth Congress in Quebec, Canada, and subsequent he was a Rapporteur for the UN-HABITAT’s 2008 World Urban Youth Forum in Nanjing, China. Being part of these global youth engagements augmented his knowledge in emerging social issues, youth-led development, and sustainable livelihoods.
Presently, Mr. France is the Founder and Executive Coordinator of Youth Path, a youth-led development agency.
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