By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, Dec. 12, GNA – Parents have been urged not to allow men address their young female children as their ‘Wifey’ as the act has proven to be a contributing factor to sexual violence in communities and the country at large.
The Reverend Mrs Hannah Odjenma Botchway, the Girls Education Coordinator in the Ledzokuku Krowo Municipal Assembly (LEKMA), explained that the culture of calling young girls ‘Wifey’ must stop « as consciously and unconsciously it created a sense of relationship in the minds of the young girls.
« These men then take advantage of the vulnerability of the girls and sexually abuse them, and in some instances getting them pregnant ».
Rev. Mrs Botchway who was speaking at a seminar organised by the Women in Law and Development Africa (WiLDAF) to mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Accra, said the trend was worrying.
She said most sexual abuses cases that appeared before the Unit, the culprit were people who were closely related to the girls, which made it difficult to bring the perpetrators to book.
The seminar organised in collaboration with Oxfam and Crossroads International was on the theme: « End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work. »
It was aimed at interacting with the pupils on reproductive health rights and the role of the police in ending gender-based violence in schools as a survey had indicated that this was where most of the violent cases took place.
This would enable the pupils identify what domestic and gender based violence is, in school and out of the school.
She said it was time parents paid attention to details in the developmental stages of their children, especially girls as the issues were becoming a canker for the country to fight.
Rev. Mrs Botchway also advised young girls to watch their way of dressing, adding, « Girls of late dress enticingly even though that is not an excuse, the sexually enticing dressing is also pushing some men to rape the girls ».
Chief Inspector Michael Akuffo-Asante, Representative of the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), speaking at the event, said children who were victims of gender-based violence have suffered in quiet for far too long, and there was the need to break the silence.
He therefore urged children especially girls to speak out to break the silence on gender-based violence meted out to them.
Chief Inspector Akuffo-Asante said most people have been abused in one way or the other and have kept it to themselves, saying, the only way to solve the problem is when people come out boldly and report such cases.
« You are not in your rightful age to engage in any sexual activity, so report people when they make the attempt, » he added.
The Inspector also educated the pupils on the various forms of violence as well as their fundamental rights as children to enable them know what to do at any given time.
Mr Festus Addo Konadu, the LEKMA Circuit Supervisor, commended WiLDAF and the other partners for the initiative, adding that this would help reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies in the Municipality.
He said this was an important programme, which would inform the children to know more about their reproductive health as it was a major challenge facing the community.
He advised the pupils to know that what mattered most at this stage was their education and urged them to put their minds to it to become responsible adults in the future.
GNA
FA/DSA
