Teachers have been urged to be more observant of their students, especially the girl-child, to detect and prevent abuses they might be going through in the hands of family and other deviants.

The teachers were also advised to be bold and stand out for any abused girl who reports such issues to them by reporting the incident to the nearest police station or Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.

ASP Lydia Osei-Agyapong, Administrator of the DOVVSU National Secretariat at the Police Headquarters, told the teachers that violence against women and girls were real and happening to many girls and that there was the need for teachers to help out, by collaborating with authorities to rescue girls from such happenings.

The Information Resource Center of the United States Embassy in Ghana organised the discussion on “Women’s World Gender in the 21st Century” for teachers, some traditional rulers and other stakeholders, to discuss issues affecting the development of women and girls and how to prevent or reduce their occurrences.

The issues of human trafficking and violence against women as well as where to seek help for abused women were discussed, where the teachers reiterated the need to strengthen support systems for victims.

ASP Osei-Agyapong said violence against women, that included emotional and sexual abuse, were rooted in the culture of most societies, and that, victims suffer low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personality and disorders.

She advised society not to treat sexual abuse, especially among girls, as personal issues but should be reported to and handled by the right authorities for the necessary actions to be taken.

Chief Superintendent Ms Patience Quaye, the Head of Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Ghana Police Service, said human trafficking has become the 21st century monster, affecting 98 per cent of women and girls the world over.

She said human trafficking is also the second most heinous crime, which every country was trying to deal with, saying that, Ghana has now become a source, transit and destination point for human trafficking.

She said most girls and women are lured into human trafficking by promises of travelling to work abroad but are later lured into slavery and prostitution after they found themselves in other countries.

Ms Quaye advised girls and women to be weary of such travelling offers and turn them down to save themselves from such predicaments.

Ms Jean Clark, the Information Officer, at the US Embassy said the discussion was held following a call by stakeholders to engage teachers on the issues affecting the girl-child to enable them to help find solutions to their problems.