Men must accord women necessary respect – Director

Mrs Augustina Gyamfi, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Women, has stressed the need for men to accord women the necessary respect in the society to halt the growing incidence of gender violence.

She said women, who constituted slightly more than half of the country’s population, should be considered as worthy partners whose contributions are critical to the development of the family and the nation as a whole.

Mrs Gyamfi was speaking at the International Women’s Day in Kumasi on Friday.

The celebration organized by the Department of Women in collaboration with the Bright Generation Community Foundation, a Non-Government Organization based in Kumasi.

The theme for the occasion was “The Gender Agenda: Gaining the Momentum; The Role of men and Boys”.

She said it was sad that despite the passage of the Domestic Violence against Women in 2007, such gender violence kept soaring everyday in the communities.

Mrs Gyamfi said her outfit in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police and other NGOS on women advocacy, have intensified educational efforts to sensitize people on the need to halt such practices.

Miss Evelyn Dapaah, Executive officer of the Bright Generation Community Foundation, said the organization aims at preventing violence against women as well as ensuring their empowerment.

She said this year’s celebration targeted the role of men and boys as crucial to achieving the needed recognition for women in society to help prevent the continued gender violence.

Source: GNA