Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, has expressed concern about the spate of domestic violence in the country and appealed for concerted effort at workplaces, homes, schools, and churches to help curb the menace. He made the observation on Thursday at the close of activities to mark this year's International Women's Day celebration in Bolgatanga. According to the Minister the national statistics on domestic violence cases received from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) from January in 2008, showed 70 girls and five boys defiled. Also 713 suspected male perpetrators were arrested against 13 females. Some 3881 females suffered from non-maintenance as against 517 males and nine people suffered compulsory marriages. He indicated that the revelation clearly indicated that women and children suffer violence more, with men being the perpetrators. He noted that ironically the female population forms about 51 per cent of the nation's population and yet were made to undergo domestic violence, which was detrimental to human fundamental rights. Mr. Woyongo pledged the Regional Coordinating Council's resolve to ensure that acts of domestic violence perpetrated, especially against women and children in the Region, were drastically reduced. "Women, undoubtedly constitute about 51 per cent of our population. They therefore wield greater influence in the nurturing of our future leaders. To subject them to this canker called domestic violence is therefore very unfortunate," he emphasized. He highlighted a lot of atrocities committed against women and girls as a result of which they suffer physical, economic, social, sexual and economic abuse throughout their lives. He noted that there were some instances where women and girls suffer domestic violence in the name of culture and tradition not to mention the number of women beaten and thrown out of their marital homes. "The worst form of it is how brilliants girls are withdrawn from schools and given out for marriage against their will, denying the nation a great deal of human resource for development. Source: GNA