Regional News of Saturday, 7 December 2013

Source: GNA

Oye Lithur calls for Zero tolerance against violence

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection on Thursday called for a zero tolerance of violence against women and girls.

She said this at a ceremony at which Superintendent of Police, Patience Quaye, and Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) were honoured, in line with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

The ceremony on the theme: “Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Ghana: The Role of Men and Boys,” was to educate men and boys towards the eradication of gender-based violence such as sexual abuse, child trafficking and domestic violence.

She said this would make the men key partners in the campaign to enable them understand the need not to abuse, but incorporate their ideas in measures to holistically address the situation and make them agents of change.

Nana Oye said this approach would address the social dynamics which constituted the root cause of gender-based violence.

She said there was the need for some legal framework to address the problem from a legal perspective to serve as deterrence, adding that the provision of the legal remedy would address human right violation issues, and give victims the opportunity to claim their right.

Nana Oye thanked SP Quaye and DOVVSU for their enormous support and collaboration, adding that their efforts had increased the number of reported cases.

She said the campaign, which started on November 25, would end on December 10.