A Legal officer at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Cephas Essiful-Ansah, says gender based violence can only be stopped if victims cooperate with officials and allow the laws to work.
He said inability of the law enforcement agencies to strictly implement the laws can largely be blamed on the lukewarm attitude of survivors, a development which should not be encouraged.
Mr. Essiful-Ansah who said this at a Media Training on Violence Against Women and Girls in Accra said 39 percent of women in Ghana still go through at least one form of violence or another.
He therefore urged the media to continue community based reportage and education to nib the practice in the bud.
One third of women globally suffer serious violation of human rights and life threatening health and protection issues.
To reduce the statistics and empower women, Inerela Ghana an Inter-faith network of religious leaders living with HIV organised media training on issues related to violence against women and girls.
According Mr Cephas Essiful-Ansah though Ghana has Laws and Policies against violence against women and girls, there is the need to step up the implementation of the laws to bring perpetrators to book.
He noted that one way of enforcing implementation is to engage in community based reportage and education to fully equip citizens of their rights.
The Country Coordinator of Inerela Ghana, Mrs. Mercy Acquah-Hayford commended the media for throwing light on gender based violence.
She however advised the media to let their reportage empower, educate, encourage and help seek justice for victims.
Mrs. Acquah Hayford cautioned community leaders who interfere in these issues to desist from doing so and allow the laws to work.
For his part a Deputy Director Administrative Justice at CHRAJ, Ambrose Cori said there is the need to encourage victims or survivors of domestic based violence to stand up for their rights.
He added that the quest of reportage should aim at seeking justice and end abuse of rights of women and girls as well as raise awareness about the support services available to victims.
Story By: Antoinette Abbah.
