Ajumako (C/R), Nov. 3, GNA - The Central Regional branch of Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DVVSU), has sensitized opinion leaders in five districts on the harmful effects of domestic and gender-based violence. The participants were made up of traditional rulers, assembly members, security officers, drivers and representatives of civil societies and women groups. The essence was to empower them to educate their community members on the dangers of the domestic violence and gender issues. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Felicia Ayensu, Central Regional DVVSU head, said this when she addressed participants at the last batch of leaders at an advocacy forum at Ajumako on Friday. The programme sponsored by the United Nation Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and European Commission (EC), has already taken place at Assin Fosu, Elmina, Breman Asikuma, Agona Swedru and Saltpond. ASP Ayensu said her outfit had within one month been undertaking the programme that was aimed at reducing the rate of domestic violence cases in the region.

She said her outfit intended to open DVVSU branches in all the districts to alleviate the suffering of victims of domestic and gender-based violence who had to come to Cape Coast to access justices. ASP Ayensu said time had come for everybody to join in the fight against rape, defilement, maltreatment against women and child neglect. She appealed to the participants to use the knowledge acquired to create awareness on domestic and gender-based violence issues to the people. Among the resource persons were Mr Vincent Hinaku, a legal practitioner, Dr J. P. Mensah in charge of Ajumako Government Hospital, Mrs Juliana Brown, Central Regional, head of Plan Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Reverend Baffour K. Akwaboah. Topics treated include, domestic violence acts, effects and challenges of domestic and gender-based violence, human rights, and sexual and reproductive health issues.