Gomoa Afransi (C/R), Nov 24, GNA - A forty-six member Gomoa District Association of Paralegals was inaugurated at Gomoa Afransi near Agona Swedru at the weekend.

The members had earlier attended an intensive three-day training workshop on adolescent reproductive health organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) with funds from the African Youth Alliance (AYA).

The paralegals are expected to sensitise the people on laws and policies affecting adolescence, identify and address adolescence problems such as rape, defilement, school dropout and teenage pregnancy.

They are also to refer these cases to the relevant bodies like the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Police Service and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for redress.

They were taught advocacy skills, sex and gender laws and policies relating to adolescence reproductive rights, the rights of children, the Interstate Succession Law, laws on marriages and divorce, violence against women and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and other topics.

Nana Oye Lithur, Co-ordinator of the FIDA/AYA Project, said FIDA was sourcing funds for further training of the paralegals on mediation, arbitration and counselling to enhance their capacities in the areas.

She said FIDA would collaborate with the Judicial Service, to have some of the paralegals co-opted into the new alternate dispute resolution system.

Nana Lithur charged members of the Association to act as advocates and to lobby for improved adolescent access to reproductive health services.

Mr Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights that Ghana has ratified guarantees right to health.

He said this is the international and regional legal framework within, which the government respects and would promote the reproductive rights of adolescents.

Mr Edumadze said the revised National Health Policy and Standards of June 2003, has included the problem of violence against women as a reproductive health issue.

In a speech read on behalf of the Gomoa District Chief Executive, Miss Joyce Aidoo, she said the District Assembly is committed to the National Response to Sexual Adolescent and Reproductive Health Programmes.

She noted that with effective collaboration among the implementing agencies the spread of HIV/AIDS would be curbed to improve the quality of life of the people.