Nkawie (Ash), Jan 16, GNA - Mr Eddy Obeng-Darko, Atwima District Director of Education, has expressed concern about violations against women recognised by the society as customs, traditions and acceptable cultural practices.

He was speaking on "Violence Against Women" at a symposium at Nkawie in the Atwima District on Thursday, organised by the District Education Directorate as part of its fundamental human rights awareness campaign.

Mr Obeng-Darko urged women to intensify their campaign for legislative reforms to protect their rights in the areas of marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, domestic violence and sexual harassment. He said in spite of the ratification of human rights instruments by nations, societies maintained practices, which discriminate against women's access to land and other economic resources, legal status and capacity and rights within the family.

The Director admitted that to change societal attitudes regarding women's rights would take sustained educational campaign and urged them to intensify and articulate their claims for recognition as full human beings in all spheres of public and private life as enshrined in the "convention on elimination of all forms of discrimination against women".

Mr Baffour Asare-Bediako, Assistant Director of Education, stressed that women and girl-child rights are inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights.

Mr Asare-Bediako called for the encouragement of women to participate in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life at the district and national levels.