Men should assist crusade on violence against women

The acting Director of the Department of Women at the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), Mrs Francesca Pobee-Hagford, has appealed to men to join the crusade to stop the growing culture of violence against women.
That, she said, would give women the opportunity to enjoy a free and safe livelihood without fear of been assaulted by men.
Mrs Pobee-Hagford made this statement after a float through the principal streets of Accra to commemorate this year's International Women's Day on the theme, "Women and men united to end violence against women".
She said the day, which is marked in March every year, was to honour women for their achievements because women represented a major source of development in every country.
She observed that one major cause of violence against women was the archaic notion of male supremacy and female subordination.
She said although this style of living was outmoded, some couples deliberately or out of ignorance still abided by this principle and this marginalisation prevented women from realising their potentials in life.
Mrs Pobee-Hagford identified education as an effective tool which could help curb domestic violence.
She said when people were well educated on the need to stop violence against women better results would be seen.
She expressed her disappointment at the low turnout of men at the celebration and said "we always invite them but it is difficult getting them to join us".
The occasion attracted women from all backgrounds — queens, market women, the Christian Mothers' Association, members of the workplace ladies’ clubs, the physically challenged and schoolchildren.
They carried placards with the inscriptions, “stop early marriages”, “don't rape your house helps”, “stop domestic violence” and “women are life partners, don't intimidate them”.