{"id":460668,"date":"2011-07-14T08:42:01","date_gmt":"2011-07-14T08:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/07\/14\/conference-on-trauma-of-abuse-of-women-children-open\/"},"modified":"2011-07-14T08:42:01","modified_gmt":"2011-07-14T08:42:01","slug":"conference-on-trauma-of-abuse-of-women-children-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/07\/14\/conference-on-trauma-of-abuse-of-women-children-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Conference on trauma of abuse of women, children open"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Page last updated at Thursday, July 14, 2011 8:08 AM \/\/ <\/span><\/div>\n

A three-day international conference on trauma of abuse of women and children, to enable organisations, groups and individuals to draw the attention of civil society to the dangers faced by such vulnerable groups, opened in Accra on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The conference is under the theme: \u201cThe Trauma of Abuse of Women and Children \u2013 A Societal Response.\u201d<\/p>\n

It would also offer participants the opportunity to assess the legal, social, institutional and cultural systems for victims of sexual violence and expand their knowledge and skills required to counsel such victims.<\/p>\n

The programme is being organised by the Juniper Tree Counselling Centre, a Christian non-profit, non-governmental organisation that provides counselling, encouragement and pastoral care among other things to depressed and traumatised victims of various forms of abuses.<\/p>\n

Dr Joseline Fugar, Executive Director of Juniper Tree Counselling Centre, said the issue of violence and abuse of women and children had increased in recent times despite the extensive media reportage to create public awareness.<\/p>\n

She said in spite of the awareness being created, many of these sexual abuse incidences still went unreported because of \u201cour cultural norms\u201d.<\/p>\n

Dr Fugar said although perpetrators of the reported cases were often duly punished by the law, the victims were left unattended to in terms of trauma management and psychological rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

She said the silent position of such victims resulted in psychological trauma which continued to be the leading cause of mental illness in the country.<\/p>\n

Dr Fugar said it was unfortunate that the country lacked the capacity to deal effectively with the increasing cases of mental health issues in terms of the doctor-patient ratio and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently there are only 14 practicing psychiatrics in Ghana and out of the about 2.4 million Ghanaians living with mental disorders only two per cent have access to care.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany are still ignorant about the causes and treatments available and therefore attribute every mental illness to activities of demons and sometimes the victims attempted suicide or even completed suicides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Fugar advocated that attempted suicides should be considered a mental health issue rather than a criminal offence and called on civil society to complement the legal efforts of government by providing counselling and support to victims of abuse.<\/p>\n

Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Women and Children\u2019s Affairs, said government had strengthened the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service to effectively handle such cases.<\/p>\n

She entreated all to be vigilant and report perpetrators of such crimes to the appropriate authorities for effective action.<\/p>\n

Dr Victor Kpodo, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Juniper Tree Counselling Centre, said it was unfortunate that the law focused on punishing perpetrators leaving the needs of victims unattended to and called on the media to follow up on the fates of victims after court judgements.<\/p>\n

He also said his organisation would lead the way by collaborating with the relevant bodies to train and certify Christian pastoral counsellors who could exhibit the highest Christian ethical standards and also establish community counselling centres across the country to provide help to those who were hurting.<\/p>\n

Source: GNA<\/p>\n

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