The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and other justice sector stakeholders to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks, abuse, and murder of women.
The commission’s call follows a growing trend of attacks, abuse, and murder of women across the country.
This was contained in a press release signed and issued by the Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs of the NCCE, Mrs Joyce Afutu, and copied to Citi News in Accra on Friday.
“Perpetrators must face severe consequences to serve as a deterrent to other citizens who, at the slightest provocation, unleash harm on women and girls and abuse them with great disregard for their rights as human beings,” she added.
Mrs Afutu said the NCCE attributed the incidences of abuse against women to the decline and breakdown of family values, and national and cultural values in our social life.
“Relationship failures and misunderstandings between couples and family members cannot justify the murder or abuse of women. The right to life is a fundamental human right for all human beings and no one has the right to take the life of another,” she added.
Mrs Afutu noted that, together with women’s groups and activists, young women must be discouraged from tolerating abusive relationships, adding that state actors must rely on the National Gender and Children Policy to meet the needs of women.
“Parents, guardians, educators, and caregivers must begin to support Civic Education efforts in nurturing young citizens with values such as respect for the rights of others, tolerance of others’ points of view, honesty, and responsibility,” she added.
Mrs Afutu said perpetrators of these recent abuses against women and young girls, especially, must be mindful of the rights and freedoms of everyone as enshrined in the constitution.
“No one should intentionally deprive a person of their life. Let’s respect the human rights of citizens. It’s our civic responsibility,” she added.