Only 15% of cases of violence against children are prosecuted

Dr Iyabode Olusanmi, UNICEF Representative in Ghana, on Wednesday disclosed that only 15% of cases of violence against children are prosecuted in the country.

This, she said, was because of threats from accused persons, preference for out-of-court settlement, mostly by accused persons, trauma faced by some plaintiffs and delays in prosecution.

Dr Olusanmi, who was speaking during a courtesy call on Mr Martin Amidu, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, appealed to the government to endeavour to pass into law all international conventions relating to children in order to ensure their full protection.

“UNICEF would also be glad if government would come out with constitutional reforms on issues relating to children,” she added.

She congratulated government for the passage of the Child Trafficking and the Domestic Violence Acts and the adoption of the outcome of The Hague Conference on Child Adoption.

She urged government to occasionally organise capacity building programmes for personnel, who handled issues pertaining to justice for children.

Mr Amidu lauded the relationship between the two countries and pledged government’s commitment towards the well-being of children in the country by coming out with appropriate laws concerning them.

“The survival of a country depends on its children and what you do for the child today will make him the adult of tomorrow.”

Mr Amidu noted that the ratification of the Right of the Child had caused Ghanaians to adopt a more positive attitude towards issues relating to children.

“Today, you would hear a lot of discussions pertaining to issues relating to the well-being of children in the country and it is fantastic,” he explained.

Mr Amidu pledged government’s commitment towards the abrogation or amendment of any law that was not in the best interest of children.

He called for more education against cultural practices, which were not in agreement with the laws of the country.

Source: GNA