One Tuesday night, we were running a teaching course in Accra. There were about 50 people there, and Mary spent some of her time teaching and encouraging women in Christian things. One couple there - a wife and daughter - were very interested, and we had a good conversation with them.
The next day they were both back, but the daughter had a very beaten and scarred face. Shocked, we asked what had happened. The mother replied “Her husband beat her for coming to this meeting.”
Marital violence
This was the first of a number of such experiences we have had while working in Africa. Sadly, domestic and marital violence against women happens. I hesitate to put any figures on it, but the United Nations estimates, that as a global average at least one woman in every three, over one billion, have been beaten, coerced into sex or abused in some other way, most often by a husband or another family member.
But what is clear is that women are beaten, often badly, within the marriage. This violence often shows itself on TV within domestic “soaps.” Beatings, eye gouging, facial damage – these are familiar images on TV. They are so awful, that we have often asked for them to be turned off in airports and eating places – much to the amazement of the staff, who seem happy with this kind of thing.
Domestic violence bill
The Government of Ghana has now passed the “Domestic Violence Bill”, and posters have been appearing saying “Stamp out domestic violence.” This is a great step forward. At least the Government are now saying that domestic and marital violence against women is wrong. Saying it is one thing - changing attitudes might take a bit longer. (To read more, put “Ghana domestic violence bill” in any browser.)
The Nation now needs to establish “Houses of refuge”, the kind of refuge which we have here in the U.K., where the women can at least escape the violent situation, while efforts are made to resolve, or at least improve the situation.
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