.. about delay in passage of domestic violence bill
Elmina, Sept 25, GNA -- The acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ms. Anna Bossman, on Monday observed that the passage of the domestic violence bill was =93long overdue=94 and stressed the need for parliament to pass it to help curb the spate of such violence in the country.

She expressed concern about the situation, describing it as 'alarming' and pointed out that the bill, was not just about checking marital rape, but was meant to enforce 93restraining orders whereby violent persons would be prohibited by law from entering into their homes'.

Ms Bossman, made the call when she interacted with newsmen after opening a three-day workshop on 93monitoring the situation of human rights=94 for regional directors and public education and research officers of the Commission, nationwide, at Elmina.

The workshop is aimed at reviewing specified themes and sub-themes of reporting in the general human rights situation developed in 2005, as well as building the capacity of the commission's staff in situation monitoring.

The acting CHRAJ boss, cited current reports of domestic violence resulting in the murders of women by their husbands, boyfriends and children, and was optimistic that the bill, when passed would nib such atrocities in the bud.

Touching on suspects on remand, she also expressed concern that such persons were not being treated well, and that their rights were most often abused, and assured Ghanaians that the commission was working hard to ensure that they were treated with dignity.

Earlier addressing the workshop, Ms Bossman said it was imperative to build the capacity of the participants to enable them discharge their monitoring roles, which she said was very vital, effectively.

She said it is expected that they would have at the end of the workshop, among others, discussed and agreed on specified areas and themes for monitoring for the next couple of years and acquired skills in the development of monitoring techniques and administration tools. She expressed gratitude to the UNDP for sponsoring the workshop and two others already held to improve the operations of the commission. A Representative from the UNDP, Mrs Magdalena Smieszek, said human rights 93are at the heart of the United Nations=94, and that promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction to race, sex, language or religion, was one of its purposes.

She described the workshop as 'invaluable', as it reinforces Ghana's responsibility to protect human rights and performing a preventive role through the presence of the commission, around the country.

She said with monitoring skills and principles, it would not only be able to observe developments, collect information and perceive patterns of conduct, but also identify problems, diagnose their causes and consider potential solutions, to ensure that the rights of all Ghanaians are upheld.

Mrs Nana Yamfoah Amua-Sekyi, acting regional director in-charge of Central/Western regions, said the problem of child and spouse maintenance was still high in the Central Region.

According to her, the situation, amounted to 'economic violence' and said the commission was therefore, educating the public to help reverse the situation.