The Women in Law and Development Africa (WiLDAF) has held a day's seminar to sensitise basic school pupils on the role of the police in ending gender based violence.
The event sponsored by Crossroads International, a non-governmental organisation forms part of activities to mark the national elimination of violence against women in the country.
Ms Abigail Edem Hunu, Communications Officer WiLDAF, said the event was to mark 16 days of activism against gender based violence.
She said violence against children is a worrying situation, which needs to be checked by all to ensure the safety of the pupils, especially girls.
She noted that the international day activities symbolically links violence against women and human rights and emphasise that such violence is a clear violation of human rights.
She said: "This is a day for girls and boys, men and women, institutions and stakeholders to be educated on interventions put in place to ensure the issue is dealt with dearly."
Ms Hunu noted that the 16 days celebration also highlighted other significant dates such as December 1, which marks World Aids Day, December 3, International Day of the Disabled, and December 6, marking the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.
She said current data has shown that school-based violence affect millions of children and adolescents worldwide, and described it as one of the worst manifestations of gender discrimination, which violated a wide range of children’s rights.
She added that school-based violence has led to the dropout of many school children, which needs to be checked by authorities to ensure these girls are well protected to continue with their education.
DSP Freeman Tettey, Public Relations Officer of Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, Public Affairs Department of the Police Service, advised children to be bold and report parents who refuse to take care of them.
He said child neglect is a grave offence which needs to be checked to ensure that parents are playing their mandated roles and being responsible in their children’s upbringing.
“Children must be bold and report any form of abuse cases to the police or a trusted person for the necessary action to be taken. This will serve as deterrent and to end the canker.
He called on children to break that silence and fear instill in them by perpetrators and report such people to enable them face the full rigorous of the law.
Source: GNA
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