It Is A Criminal Ofense To Physically Abuse A Woman-Police

A police officer has said no matter the extent of provocation, it still remained a criminal offense for men to physically abuse women. Superintendent of Police Rebecca Nyamah, Tema Regional Co-ordinator of the Domestic Violence Support Unit, said this at a programme to commemorate the "UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women" held at Kpone. She said violence against women existed in so many forms but often went on silently and unnoticed. "Some girls have to compromise their dignity to get good grades in school or even a job," she said. "Even when you watch the exorcising of witchcraft on television, it is only women that tend to be the witches. You don't ever see any man," she said and added that it had become necessary to erase certain inherent cultural beliefs which encourage disrespect for women. Mrs. Georgina Asare, Director of Social Wellfare, Kpone Katamanso District, said whilst some men were naturally abusive, others got violent out of frustration due to the difficult and un-corporative nature of their female partners. "I urge you women to be supportive of your husbands,� she said at the programme organized by the Department of Community Development of the Kpone Katamanso District Assembly. On November 251960 three sisters, Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Maria Minerva Mirabal and Antonia Maria Teresa Mirabal, were assassinated in the Dominican Republic on the orders of the Dominican Ruler, Rafael Trujillo. The sisters had fought to end his dictatorship. Since 1981, the anniversary of their killings has been observed by women rights groups. In 1999, November 25 was announced as "The Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women" by the UN General Assembly.