Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit

Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit
AbbreviationDOVVSU
HeadquartersAccra
Formerly called
Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU)

The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) is a unit in the Ghana Police Service. It has the capacity to oversee matters of domestic abuse against women and children.[1] DOVVSU has a mission to prevent, apprehend and prosecute culprits of domestic violence and child abuse.[2]

The unit provides support and protection for victims of domestic abuse by interrelating activities with the Department of Social Welfare, the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the Legal Aid Board. DOVVSU assists victims of sexual abuse, physical assault, fraud and neglect.[3][4] DOVVSU is mandated by, The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Police Service Act, the Criminal and other Offences Act, Act 29/60, the Children’s Act, Act, 560 /98,  the Juvenile Justice Act,  Act 653/2003, Ghana Domestic Violence Act (Act 732) 2007.[5]

Organization

DOVVSU previously Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) was introduced in October 1998 as a special unit to handle violence against the vulnerable. Assigned a new name to Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit in 2005, is composed of police personnel with offices in all regional capitals and desks in majority of districts in Ghana.[6]

References

  1. ^ "About Dovvsu". 197.253.65.120. Retrieved 2019-05-26.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Be bold to report any form of abuse – DOVVSU". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  3. ^ "Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and Domestic Violence Legislation in Ghana". womensphere. 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  4. ^ "The law and gender-based violence". Modern Ghana. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
  5. ^ "About Dovvsu". 197.253.65.120. Retrieved 2019-05-26.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Ghana: Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVISU), formerly the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU), established by the Ghanaian police and whether it provides protection to women in Ghana (March 2006)". Refworld. Retrieved 2019-05-26.