Gender based violence on the rise

The United Nations reports, seven out of 10 women are victims of physical or sexual abuse at some point in life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also says that 30 per cent of women suffer violence regularly as 2 million girls, at each year of their lives, suffer various forms of violence such as genital mutilation, witchcraft allegations, human trafficking and sexual assault to mention a few.

The situation has become more worrisome as more issues of domestic violence are been reported daily and at an alarming rate, claiming lives and in some cases inflicting physical injuries which leaves victims permanently disabled. To stem the trend, stakeholders are calling for enforcement of the domestic violent act.

According to the 2011 statistics, out of the 12,906 cases of various forms of violence received nationwide, 4,701 were assault on women, 376 were rape cases and defilement of girls accounts for 1,175.

Although a domestic violence act has been passed for four years now, violence against women and children still persist necessitating calls for an effective implementation of the legislative instrument.

As Ghana joins in the 22nd celebration of this year's 16 days of activism against gender based violence, the theme for the celebration drums home the need for peace in next month's election.

At the launch of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence, civil society groups and stakeholders have called for a review of existing policies whiles also pledging their commitment and support to end violence against women.