The Church asked to respond effectively to sexual and gender based violence

By Ama Achiaa Amankwah
“….After years of and battering every Friday evening, I used the last drop of my energy and went to my pastor. I felt I was becoming crazy. Fear and shame had killed my self-esteem. I was breathing but nothing else was left. The pastor welcomed me and gave me this advice: ‘Next Friday, think of Jesus who endured so much more anguish for your sake. If you tolerate your earthly burden of suffering and be sure not to break the marriage vows, you can look forward to joy in heaven.”

This is what many of the victims, (women) of sexual and gender based violence who seek help from the church or religious organisations are often told. Their experiences have largely been negative as often times scripture is quoted to re-inforce the belief that the bible teaches that they should submit to abuse and remain in the situation.

Churches have largely failed to recognise and respond to the reality of violence and sexual abuse against women in the domestic environment. The church is often unresponsive to the needs of people who go through such ordeals. The clergy or laity who attempt to resolve domestic sexual and gender-based violence mostly apply counseling methods that further victimize woman.

Violence that normally occurs between these groups of people is termed domestic violence. Domestic violence although a major human rights case in Ghana is on the rise in many homes.
Available Statistics show that over 90% of the victims of domestic violence are women and children. Some religions, including some sects of Christianity appear to permit the right of punishment for wives.

The contribution of the church towards ensuring the rights of people cannot not be overlooked, since it is the core of the family. It is in this light, that a seminar under the theme, “Understanding Sexual and Gender Based Violence, the Role of the Church” was held in Accra to create awareness of the issues.

It was also to commit the church to respond effectively to such issues. The Ark Foundation, Ghana, a non-governmental organisation which focuses on women and children’s rights protection organised the seminar. It brought together church leaders and representatives, the media and interested individuals from charismatic, orthodox and Pentecostal church among others.
A Retired Commissioner of Police and a volunteer of the Ark Foundation, Ms Christie Jane Donkor explained that the objectives of the church outreach programme is to sensitize the church on the concept of abuse, how to deal with them and to encourage them to develop caring and action oriented response systems and services to survivors of abuse.

She announced that a counseling training programme will be organised in November by the foundation for church leaders to become the first point of call on issues regarding sexual and gender based violence.
“This is to ensure that victims/survivors will not be sent away after being prayed for.”

The situation of sexual and gender based violence is regarded as detrimental to victims and society as a whole. Until recently, such violence was not given the needed attention although Ghana has signed, ratified and adopted several international conventions, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Violence Against Women and the one on the Rights of the Child.

Over the past four years the issue of domestic violence has attracted all kinds of debates in Ghana. Campaigners are of the opinion that the law in Ghana is inadequate for dealing with domestic violent crimes, and are therefore calling for a legislative instrument to make the law meaningful.

Ghana’s parliament was expected to pass the domestic violence bill to provide legal framework for dealing domestic violence. The bill is purposely targeted at improving the situation of women and children who are frequent

The Programme Assistant of the Legal Centre/ Community Based Advocacy of the Ark Foundation, Ghana, Mr. Samuel Kyei Berko who made a presentation on the dynamics of sexual and gender based abuse stated that research has established that violence is a learned behaviour and that perpetrators choose to do so.

He said women between the ages of ten to eighteen are at risk of being sexually abused. According to Mr. Berko the effects of such abuses are long lasting. “Victims develop depression, low self-esteem and anxiety. Children suffer from serious emotional and behaviourial changes.”

Ironically, he said, women often stay in such abusive relationship to portray loyalty, identity and ensure their survival since most women feel they need a man to make their life complete.