Female MP Charges Gov't to Resource DOVVSU to Tackle Violence Against Women

Member of Parliament (MP) for Afadzato South Constituency, Angela Alorwu Oforiwaa-Tay, has charged government to make the deliberate effort to adequately resource the police to deal with crime against women.

In a statement on the floor of Parliament to mark the United Nation’s designated 16 days against gender activism, the legislator said it is time that the security agencies, particularly, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service took the lead role in helping stop this.

She is positive if they work with the judiciary to ensure those who engage in such evil acts get the most severe of punishments to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Ms Alorwu Oforiwaa-Tay also charged parents to prioritise the protection of their girl children.

“Parents must also take the problem seriously and do their best to protect their children from such wicked people who end up destroying their future,” she added.

Below is the full statement

Statement to mark International Day for the elimination of violence against women and start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence.

Mister Speaker, 25th November is International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. The day is aimed at galvanizing action to end violence against women and girls around the world. It also marks the start of the United Nation’s designated 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The activism runs until the 10th of December.

For far too long, impunity, silence and stigma have allowed violence against women to escalate to pandemic proportions. As of today, one in three women worldwide experiences gender-based violence. Issues of defilement, rape, physical assault, domestic violence, child marriage, among others all constitute violence against women and girls.

As we mark this day, I want to particularly draw attention to the abuse of girls in school which has become prevalent recently and has the potential to draw back the growth of our girls into good womanhood. Too many of such cases have been recorded in Senior High, as well as basic schools and universities which must end. There is the common story of lecturers abusing ladies in other to pass them, which is quite troubling.

Some of these abuses of women are also happening in churches by people who call themselves men of God. Such abuses are happening in workplaces as bosses use their superiority to abuse their subjects at work. In fact, sometimes, these actions are by co-workers. There are cases of fathers abusing their daughters sexually. Why should this be so?

Sadly, these abuses happen every day. Not all of it gets reported by the media. In fact, not all of it gets reported to even the police for action to be taken against those involved. This is sad.

It’s even more troubling that recently in Kumasi for example, we saw boys’ gang rape a lady and they had the guts to film it and put out the video of that. What sort of upbringing are these children getting? Where are they learning such wicked acts from? What kind of society are we building for ourselves?

Such violence against females could have long-lasting implications on their general development. It damages their self-confidence; sometimes it results in them suffering lingering life conditions around their reproductive organs; sometimes they get infected by sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS; they sometimes get pregnant as a result thereby cutting short their education, and the list goes on and on. It is time we all stood up and protected our girls and women.

We all as Ghanaians also have a responsibility to ensure women are not beaten up by their husbands and their bosses and others. There can be absolutely no justification for any such assault on women. Domestic violence should not be tolerated in any form. Women who face such abuses silently at home should be bold to take on their spouses according to the dictates of the law.

I believe it is time that the security agencies, particularly, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service took the lead role in helping stop this and work with the judiciary to ensure those who engage in such evil acts get the most severe of punishments to serve as a deterrent to others. Parents must also take the problem seriously and do their best to protect their children from such wicked people who end up destroying their future.

But most importantly, government has a huge responsibility to adequately resource state institutions like the Gender Children and Social Protection Ministry, as well as the police so they can work effectively to keep our females safe. That is something only government can do because they have the ultimate power of the state. I will call on the President to make the protection of women a personal agenda and help support our women.

Thank you very much Mr. Speaker

---Myjoyonline