Statement: International Women's Day- NETRIGHT Celebrates Ghanaian Women

As we celebrate International Women's day, Network for Women's Rights in Ghana, NETRIGHT congratulates all Ghanaian women. The network acknowledges all who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to ensure peace development and particularly equality for women despite appalling economic, social and political conditions.

The quest for Gender Equality and Women's Rights is fraught with struggles against obstacles, frustrations and pain. The Gender Agenda is gaining momentum as a result of the selfless, dedicated and committed work of feminists and women's rights activists. We urge them to keep to their conviction and remain focused on their efforts to attain gender equality in all spheres of life.

We acknowledge some amount of progress made reflected for instance in the enactment of legislations like the Domestic Violence Act, the way ahead, nevertheless, is still long. We are witness to numerous abuses that women and girls suffer on a daily basis: rape, defilement, murder. Women continue to be banished to witches' camps or chained in Christian prayer camps on the accusations that they are witches. Female education still lags behind that of men, young girls continue to be forced into marriages and maternal mortality remains unacceptably high.

In the second decade of the 21st century, female representation in the Ghanaian parliament stands at a partly 10%, way below the 33.3% critical mass to tip decision making in women's favour. In the area of legislation we note shortcomings such as the absence of the Legislative instrument on DV Act and the law on Spousal Rights.

We wish, on the occasion of Women's Day, to urge government to make real its promises to women as contained in the numerous conventions and protocols signed at the international, regional and national levels to promote women's rights by:

• Passing the Affirmative Action Law to strengthen women's political participation;

• Ensuring that gender budgeting is adopted by all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies;

• Providing all the required resources for the effective functioning of the Ministry responsible for Gender;

• Providing the legislation and facilities for the eradication of all harmful cultural practices that affect the social, economic, political and health status of women.

Issued by NETRIGHT on March 8, 2013 in Accra.
Signed:
Akua Britwum
Convenor


Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com/Mercy Adjabeng