William N. Jalulah
1 July 2008
MADAM SAHARATU Mahama, Northern Regional Coordinator of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), has asserted that Ghana may not achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, if issues on violence against women and children were not critically addressed.
She said there was supposed to be a fund under the Domestic Violence Act, to settle medical expenses of raped or defiled victims, but unfortunately, the fund was not ready, thus making victims or their relatives, bear these medical expenses before the police could process any case before the law court, for the perpetrators to be prosecuted.
This unfortunate situation makes some victims rape or defilement, or their relatives, feel reluctant to report such cases to the police, because they would feel they still have to bear all the medical expenses.
Madam Mahama suggested that action should be expedited on the implementation of the fund, so that victims of domestic violence could assess the fund, to settle their medical expenses.
Members, who will monitor the fund, should also be considered as soon as possible, to enable victims access the fund.
Speaking at a seminar on the rights of children, in Bolgatanga, Madam Mahama regretted that in some instances, such victims were ejected from the homes of their relatives, exposing them to all forms of unfavourable weather and living conditions.
She suggested that when implemented, part of the fund should be used to put up accommodation facilities for the ejected victims.
The Programme Coordinator of FIDA-Ghana in Bolgatanga, Mr. David Atinga, explained that the purpose of the training programme was to produce a core of dedicated people or institutions, to champion child labour issues, advocate for change and also share experiences and propose practical solutions, to reduce child labour.
He said the problem of child-trafficking and worst forms of child labour, could be properly addressed, through public education, in order to let people appreciate the fact that it was a menace, which undermined the human dignity, including the social and economic development of the society.
Mr. Atinga stated that eliminating child labour did not only require formulation, and implementation of laws that protected children from abuse, but making the public aware of these laws, and the consequences of their actions and inactions.
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