Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Maxwell Atindane, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, has urged Ghanaians to respect and protect the rights of women including refugees in the country.

DCOP Atindane gave the advise in an address read on his behalf at the opening of a day’s sensitisation workshop organised by the National Secretariat of Domestic violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of Ghana Police Service in Sunyani.

It was attended by 40 security officers drawn from the Fetentaa Refugee Camp area in the Berekum Municipality.

The programme sponsored by the United Nations Fund Population Agency with facilitators from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees aimed at educating participants on community mobilisation on Sexual and Gender -Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health.

He said the rights of women and refugees should not be trampled upon, especially on sexual abuse and physical violence because they are highly vulnerable in the society.

DCOP Atindane said gender-based violence has adverse economic implications on relationships as most abused women are financially dependent on men and are therefore unable to sever relationship with their violent partners.

He noted that laws passed to punish perpetrators of sexually and gender- based violence and violence against women are not deterrent enough and therefore expressed the need for stringent measures curb the menace in the society.

DSP Lydia Osei Agyeman of DOVVSU National Secretariat called for the abolishing of outmoded customs, traditional and cultural practices in the society because they contradict laws protecting particularly women and the vulnerable in the country.