Nyinahin (Ash), Sept. 2, GNA - The Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the African Youth Alliance (AYA) have trained about 40 community leaders, as paralegals in five districts of Ashanti between August 2003 and November 2004 under their Reproductive Health Rights project.

Mr Charles Habia, Project Co-ordinator of FIDA/AYA, who made this known, said the paralegals were trained in relevant laws and policies in the areas of adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency after a day's refresher course for paralegals in the two Atwima districts at Nyinahin on Sunday, he said so far about 80 child neglect and maintenance cases had been handled in the five districts.

Mr Habia named the districts as Afigya-Sekyere, Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma, Ejisu-Juaben, Kumasi metropolis, Atwima-Nwabiagya and Atwima-Mponua.

He gave the breakdown as 26 child-labour and child abuse cases, 19 maintenance neglect and nine defilement cases.

The Project Co-ordinator said about 7,100 people from other communities have been sensitised on adolescent sexual reproduction and health and said they involved schools, churches and associations. Mr Habia said the paralegals had been trained to handle and treat basic civil rights related cases and violation through medication and arbitration. Sept. 02, 05