Editorial
Stop abuse of women, children; they must be protected
Violence affects millions of women and children around the world, and poverty unfortunately makes them more vulnerable to a range of everyday forms of violence.
According to statistics one in five girls is sexually abused at least once in her life. Additionally, around 736 million women have at some point in their lives been victims of sexual or physical abuse.
Furthermore, girls under the age of 16 are the victims of up to 50 percent of sexual assaults worldwide.
It is really depressing that assault situations are frequently handled at home and viewed as family matters rather than being reported to the appropriate authorities to address the problems.
The Spectator is opposed to violence against women and children, which is common in most homes but ought to end because these individuals have rights and require protection.
As a result of this, November 25 is celebrated around the world as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW). It also signifies the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which continues until December 10, International Human Rights Day.
These 16 days offer a specific time frame for action and advocacy. The goal of the yearly campaign is to prevent and end violence against women and children. The theme for this year is “A woman is killed every 10 minutes.” #UniTE to End Violence Against Women #NoExcuse.
It aims to promote a shift in the attitudes, behaviours, and culture that contribute to violence against women and their children. The campaign seeks to permanently eradicate abuse from society and increase awareness of the detrimental effects that violence and abuse have on women and children.
Physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, spiritual, cultural, verbal, and financial abuse are all forms of violence against women and children. In addition, it may involve coersion, threats, denial of freedom, digital or online abuse, forced or child marriages, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
These are human rights abuses that occur daily, repeatedly, and everywhere in the world. They have detrimental short- and long-term effects on women and girls’ physical, economic, and psychological well-being, though they can also target boys, preventing them from fully and equally participating in society.
In order to prevent violence against women and children we can empower women, educate others about gender equality and non-violence, and support their independence and decision-making authority in relationships and public life.
We should also treat all forms of abuse and violence seriously, apprehend those responsible, and punish them severely deter others from committing similar crimes.
We should also take all violence and abuse seriously by arresting perpetrators and dealing severely with them to deter others from engaging in similar acts.
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
