DOVVSU receives more cases

By Ruth Oppong Nyarko

THE Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) recorded 5,705  cases in 2009 as against 4,904 in 2008. 

Chief Inspector Irene Oppong, Public Relations Officer of the Accra unit, told The Mirror that there was an increase in cases involving assault, failing to supply the necessities to children, exposing children to harm, abduction, rape and compulsion of marriage.

She said, however, that there was no report on sodomy, depriving people of property and insulting behaviour.

Ms Oppong said defilement, child trafficking, attempted suicide, incest, child labour and unlawful ejection cases reduced compared to 2008.

 The PRO said as part of measures to reduce domestic violence in the country, the unit would soon embark on outreach programmes in collaboration with stakeholders such as the INDEPTH Network, Ark Foundation, Project Abroad and Women Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) as well as the media.

Ms Oppong explained that outreach programmes would cover educational campaigns against domestic violence in schools and security tips for prevention and defence of  violent attacks.

Touching on the issue of rape, Ms Oppong said most perpetrators lured their victims, for example, by sending them on errands and asking them to send the items into their rooms, thereby abusing the victims, and urged women and young girls to be wary of such miscreants.

 Ms Oppong urged parents to educate their children on sexual abuse and sex, adding that "if the children are aware of what sex is and how to abstain, as well as  identify perpetrators, it would help reduce most of the criminal cases relating to sexual abuse".

Ms Oppong, however, appealed to the public to report domestic violence cases early to help speed up investigations.