Accra, Feb 26, GNA- Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, on Wednesday stated that the awareness raised by the Ministry about violence within the family had gained grounds in both urban and rural women.

She pointed out that, hitherto, women dared not challenge the propriety of such acts meted out to them by their male counterparts. Mrs Asmah said this in an address read for her at the opening of a day's workshop on the theme: "Peace and Human Rights: An Agenda For Sustainable Human Development."

Organised jointly by the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs; the Institute of Adult Education; Women in Law and Development in Africa, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative; and the British Council.

Participants were taken through Socialization/Traditionalism: Implications for Peace at the Family level; Zero Tolerance for Violence: An Agenda for Development; and Legal Rights within the Family, among other topical issues.

Mrs Asmah expressed grave concern about the continuing perpetration of violence by men against women and the resultant absence of peace in most homes.

She said it was sad to note that some men still go round in this negative act with impunity, and was quick to suggest that if the problem of the misuse of power by men was to be addressed, then women needed to be empowered.

The Minister underscored the need to mobilize all human resources to mitigate the causes of violence within the society. Professor Miranda Greenstreet, Executive Director of the African All For Health and the Environment said national development could not be realised in the absence of peace.

Prof Greenstreet therefore, stressed the need for Ghanaians to be at peace with one another.

Mrs Marian Tackie, Executive Secretary of the National Council on Women and Development, suggested that women be involved in the decision-making process in the home.