Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - Dr James Clayman, the Medical Superintendent at the Ga West Municipal Hospital, on Tuesday said domestic violence affecte= d the fertility of women especially when they are stressed. He explained that when a woman experiences stress due to domestic violence, be it physical or emotional, some hormones which were supposed to secrete some fluids to help in ovulation did not secrete, thereby affecti= ng the menstrual cycle. He therefore called on the general public to support the fight against domestic violence since it was a serious public health issue. Dr Clayman was speaking at the launch of a campaign dubbed: "16 Da= ys of Activism Against Gender Violence," on the theme: "Women Speak Peace, E= nd Gender- Based Violence Now." The campaign uses 16 days between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women which falls on 25th November and th= e International Human Rights Day which falls on 10th December every year to=

reinforce that all forms of violence against women are human right issues=

and demand accountability for such crimes. Dr Clayman said psychologically domestic violence instilled fear, l= ow self-esteem, mood swings, anger and post traumatic stress disorder of various forms and urged the government and parliament to enforce laws tha= t would ensure the implementation of the Domestic Violence Law. Mrs Mercy Adjabeng, the Programme Officer of the Women in Law and Development, Africa (WILDAF), said a Gender Violence Survivors Support Network (GVSSN), collaboration among Ghanaian organizations working direc= tly or indirectly with survivors of violence, had been formed to enhance awareness and create a deeper understanding of the impact of violence on survivors. She said the 16-day campaign is used by individuals, civil society organisations and women activists groups to create awareness locally, nationally and globally on the negative impact of violence against women and to act against it.