Abesim (B/A), April 5, GNA – Mr Kwame Denkyira Afram, Programme Officer, Action Aid Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, on Thursday called on the media to partner the Police in the fight against domestic violence.
The media, he noted, could contribute to sensitize and empower victims of domestic violence to report cases to the Police for the necessary action to be taken.
Mr Afram made the call at the opening of a day’s training workshop on gender-based violence for some media personnel at Abesim, near Sunyani.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Office of Action Aid Ghana organised the workshop, which was attended by about 30 media practitioners drawn from selected districts in the Region.
Mr Afram said the media was the first contact point where gender-based violence was mostly reported and therefore a key partner in the crusade against gender-based violence.
He emphasized that the media also played a key role in educating the general public on the preservation of evidence on domestic violence and make them understand that, early report of violence helped the Police to facilitate speedy prosecution.
Mr Afram expressed regret that violence in domestic setting continued to increase throughout the world and Ghana in particular, as women and children happened to be the most affected.
The programme officer said according to a report by ‘All Africa.com 2011’ in Ghana between 1999 to May 2010, there were 109,784 reported cases of domestic violence, averaging about 10,000 cases every year.
Mr Afram observed that even though, a number of domestic violence cases were being reported at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police Service, a greater number of them remained unreported, as a result of victimization and fear of being further traumatized.
Mr John Aba, Action Aid Programme Manager, explained the NGO recognized the centrality of gender equality and equity to its work.
This, he explained, was why Action Aid had focused its attention on working to eliminate violence against women and girls through an effective collaboration with the media and other relevant institutions.
GNA