Coalition wants domestic violence law implemented better
The Coalition on Domestic Violence Legislation has called on the government to urgently address challenges associated with the implementation of the domestic violence law.
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The coalition also made a special appeal to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to facilitate the effective implementation of the Domestic Violence Act 2007 (732) because he played a leading role in the enactment of the law when he was the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Presenting a review report on Ghana’s response to domestic violence by the coalition, dubbed the “State of the nation’s response to sexual and gender-based violence”, at a press conference in Accra last Thursday, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Mr Adolf Awuku Bekoe, said the campaign had, over the years, been limited to talk, with little action.
Purpose
The press conference was aimed at painting the true picture of how Ghana had responded to domestic violence, which the coalition said had a high prevalence.
Statistics available to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) indicate that at least 17,655 cases were reported to the Unit in 2014 alone.
True picture
Quoting from the National Domestic Violence Policy and Plan of Action (NPPA) of 2008, Mr Bekoe said the challenges mentioned in that report still persisted 10 years on.
The NPPA 2008 report established that the response of state institutions to domestic violence was hampered by inadequate legislation, lack of protocols, dismissal of cases due to the lack of evidence and referral to the informal and traditional system, he said.
The report also indicated that the discretionary powers of the police and the insensitivity of staff of state institutions were contributory factors.
Obstacles to seeking redress at the courts included delays, inappropriate sentencing, the high cost of obtaining medical reports and care, the report pointed out.
“The many practical needs of victims and survivors were hardly met. At the time of passing the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), only two shelters were functional in Ghana, counseling services were limited and access to health facilities difficult. Few hotlines were also in operation,” he quoted from the NPPA 2008 report.
More work remains
Mr Bekoe said although the state had made some strides in the response to domestic violence, much more remained to be done which needed the immediate collaborative attention of all stakeholders, particularly the government.
“As citizens and critical stakeholders in the fight for gender equality in Ghana, we are deeply concerned about the increasing brutality and impunity characterising the perpetration of violence, particularly against women and girls,” he said.
Recommendations
He submitted that there were so many hindrances to the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), making implementation ineffective and marring national efforts to curb the menace.
The coalition, therefore, recommended that the DOVVSU needed to be strengthened to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively.
It also recommended the immediate reconstitution of the Domestic Violence Management Board, the increase of investment towards the implementation of the law and the intensification of efforts to prevent and systematically punish all forms of violence against women and girls.
There was also the need to build the capacity of judges, lawyers, crime officers and prosecutors and other key stakeholders to ensure the proper handling and management of domestic violence cases.
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