Mr Paul Chinatra, the District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in the Bawku East District, has said the reference to CHRAJ as a ‘Women’s Court’ must cease.
In an educational programme, he explained to the people that the Commission was an independent investigative body and not a court, though it exercised some quasi-judicial services.
Mr Chinatra, said the Commission had been embarking on a sensitisation programmes in schools and communities to educate the people about the functions of the Commission.
He said patronising CHRAJ was fastest and cheapest way to resolve issues on human rights violations as compared to the courts, while its services were free.
He, therefore, entreated the people to report all human rights violations to the Commission for redress.
Mr Chinatra, however, explained that at present the lack of funds and logistics made it difficult for the Commission to deliver on its core mandate of educating, receiving complaints and investigating issues of human rights violations.
“We have only four staff and a motorbike which breaks down frequently, making it difficult for officials to embark on outreach programmes in surrounding villages within the district,” he said.
Mr Chinatra said the Commission had plans to embark on a mobile office programme, that would make movement into surrounding communities easier and allow enough time to enlighten people about their rights, the activities of the Commission and also solve their human rights issues.
He noted that the Commission had only three official vehicles in the Region and motor bikes in the Districts, which were not able to transport officials for outreach programmes on a large scale.
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