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Chiefs pledge to
reforms negative cultural practices against women
Vea (UE), April 11,
Ghanadot/GNA - Chiefs from four communities in the
Bongo District in the Upper East Region, have pledged their
support to work towards reforming certain negative cultural
practices against women.
The chiefs were the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional
Area, Naaba Baba Salifu Aleemyarom, Naaba Peter Apiniyeh
Anaudgo, the Chief of Gowere, Naaba Thomas Azubila, chief of
Vea and Naaba Bonsong Dogpoya of Nyariga.
They made the pledge in a statement signed by them at Vea
after a durbar of organised by the International Federation
of Women Lawyers.
The durbar was aimed at sensitizing the communities on
rights of women, outmoded socio-cultural practices and
domestic violence.
It was also aimed at getting chiefs involved in the crusade
against human rights violation of women.
The chiefs promised to assist women to enjoy their
fundamental human rights in their communities by working to
reform negative cultural practices such as Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM), elopement, early marriage, widowhood rites
and inheritance, dowry and expensive funerals.
The chiefs indicated that they would ensure that cases of
rape, defilement, and other high crimes were handled by the
appropriate quarters and not by their courts.
They said they would adopt measures to ensure that women
gained access to justice at the community level and also
encourage men to see women as partners in development.
The paramount chief of Bongo noted that women played a
significant role in national development and if given the
necessary push they could be more useful.
Mr David Atinga the Regional Coordinator of the
International Federation of Women Lawyers, noted that
majority of women in the traditional home had no access to
justice and were being abused.
He noted that whenever there was misunderstanding between
women and their husbands, only men discussed the issues
without a female representative.
He called on the traditional authorities to advocate for a
change since society was becoming dynamic.
GNA |
