Obuasi, March 4, GNA- A Principal Assistant Registrar with the Obuasi Office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on women groups to work towards the promotion of women rights in the society.

Mr Gordon Nuworkpor, Assistant Registrar, who made the call, observed that there were a number of organizations at the forefront of the fight for the protection of the rights of women, "but it is the women themselves who must rise up to ensure these rights". Mr Nuworkpor was speaking at a day's workshop on abuses of women rights, for over 40 women at Obuasi, organized by Kaleo Women Development Association (KAWDA), an Obuasi-based NGO. It was organised by the People's Rights and Participation for Development (PREPAD) project and sponsored by the Social Support Foundation (SSF) AND Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI), both NGOs. Mr Nuworkpor said there was the need for women to exercise their rights because customs and traditions had relegated women to the duties of house-keeping, raising and caring for children and assisting husbands in their work that "we do not remember their rights, either their God-given rights or by the law".

"Our customary law accorded women virtually no enforceable rights. Women were the most oppressed, humiliated and exploited", the (CHRAJ) Assistant Registrar said.

He was happy that there were a number of statutes that have been put in place to liberate women from the customary law era. Mr Emmanuel Kofi Antwi, Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) called on women groups to play effective advocacy roles to influence decisions that affect women rights.

He urged women to avail themselves of opportunities and acquire skills that would positively influence the society and the communities. The Director of KAWDA, Mr Albert Annadie said the Association would continue organising programmes aimed at empowering women to be respected in society.