Upper East Department of Women holds forum on domestic violence

Pelingu (UE), Aug. 28, GNA - The Upper East Acting Regional Director of the Department of Women, Ms Mercy Atule has expressed worry about the high rate of early and forceful marriages of young girls in the Region, which she said contravened the Domestic Act (ACT 732) of 2007.

She said the gender-based violence was being fuelled by socio-economic factors which had led to the withdrawal of a number of girls from school.

Ms Atule was speaking at a forum organised by the Department at Pelingu in the Talensi-Nabdam District, where the practice is common.

The forum was on the theme: "Uniting to End Gender Based Violence in Upper East Region."

Ms Atule said early or forceful marriage of girls led to mental, psychological and emotional problems for the victims.

She observed that the problem was responsible for the high rate of maternal mortality in the Region and the increase of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Ms Atule asked the people to report such incidence to the law enforcement agencies for the arrest of the perpetrators.

She also called for collaborative efforts to deal with the issue.

Ms Atule noted that it would be very difficult for Ghana to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, if gender equality was not met.

"No meaningful development could be achieved if women who were more than 50 per cent of the population were discriminated against," she said.

In a speech read on her behalf, the District Chief Executive, Mrs. Vivian Anafo appealed to chiefs to sensitize their people to stop withdrawing their female children from school and give them out for marriage.

GNA