AFRICA/GHANA - Poverty and traditions, main causes of violence against women

Thursday, 19 July 2007

AFGHANISTAN

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Geneva (Agenzia Fides) - Poverty and popular traditions are the principal causes of violence against women in Ghana, said Yakin Ertük, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women
on a recent visit to the country.
“Most of society in Ghana sees women subordinate to men, private property of the husband, seeing he had to pay for her ” said the UN Human Rights Council expert.
Many girls are forced into marriage, many have children at a very young age and violence on the part of “husbands or family members or outsiders is normal in the life of women” the UN rapporteur continued. In rural areas rape, or attacks, or other sexual abuse of women goes unpunished.
Another factor which leads to violence against women is poverty and the little importance given to the education of women.
Ms Yakin Ertük, in Ghana from 7 to 14 July stressed the need of reforms to reduce poverty and she welcomed the recent approval of a law which, it is hoped, will help eradicate domestic violence in Ghana. (AP) (19/7/2007 Agenzia Fides; Righe:19; Parole:214)