Public Agenda (Accra)
Patricia Ofori Atta
15 January 2007
Accra — The Network for Women's Rights (NETRIGHT) a non- profit advocacy body says 2006 was an important year both on the international and political arenas even though women continued to experience the rise of religious extremism of all kinds, unrelenting poverty and hardships and the continuous widening of inequalities.
Besides that, a UN report showed that 60 percent of Ethiopian women were subjected to sexual violence, including martial rape and almost 50 percent of Zambian women said a partner had attacked them.
Speaking at a meeting to review the status of women in Ghana, Africa and the world at large in 2006, a leading member of NETRIGHT Dr. Dzodzi Tsikata said the UN report indicate that on average, 1 in 3 women has been subjected to intimate partner violence.
The report also noted that 100 countries did not have domestic violence laws and another 50 did not have laws under which marital rape could be prosecuted.
She also disclosed that last year's District level elections in the country has taught women about the visible challenges associated with improving women's participation in decision making. "Moreover, the District Assembly elections and their outcomes show progress in the effort to promote women's participation in public decision making," she said adding, "However, the progress has been slow and arduous and that women constituted 12.3 percent or only 1741 of candidates in the district level elections.
In spite of that, Dr. Tsikata said women have made progress in that direction, above that of 1998 where 547 women participated which is about 3.5 percent of candidates and 2002, where 965 of women participated consisting of 6.8 percent of candidates.
Furthermore, the report stated that the percentage of women who won in relation to women who stood deteriorated -from 35.8 percent in 1998 to 35.3 percent in 2002 to 26.7 percent in 2006.
In terms of appointees, only 6 Districts out of 97 surveyed made the 50 percent of women as appointee's target. Another group of 27 districts had 40 percent women appointees while there are few women DCEs, District Coordinating Officers, presiding members and budget officers. In 2006, there were 12 female DCEs including one for a metro assembly.
Again in Ghana, Dr. Tsikata said the Domestic Violence Bill has made a slow progress to Parliament and has not been passed yet in spite of the fact that such a law is urgent.
She said last year Ghana hosted the first meeting of African feminists, which brought together a few hundred women to deliberate on all matters affecting the African continent and hampering the transformation of gender relations. The meeting was a sign of the maturation of feminism in Africa and hopefully, the moment born out of this event will grow in strength.
The report concluded that in spite of progress, violence against women had not yet received the priority required to enable significant change.
The United Nations Report on Women indicated that over 100 countries did not have laws under which marital rape could be prosecuted nor do they have Domestic Violence laws to ensure the rights of women and avoid violence against them.
NETRIGHT also reviewed efforts of women to promote gender equity and also celebrated women who have lifted the image of women in the year as well as honour men and women who have worked tirelessly to promote the cause of transforming gender inequalities.
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