SEXUAL-BASED VIOLENCE: DSVA ENGAGES ARTISANS, CDC/CDA MEMBERS

Taking advantage of the slogan SGBV, “NOT IN MY LAGOS!!!”, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has continued its Community  Advocacy in the Ikorodu division of the State by engaging artisans and CDC/CDA members. 

The programme held recently in Ikorodu with over 150 participants in attendance, was organised in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation as well as the Chairmen of all the Local Government Areas. 

The Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, represented by the Head of Community Engagement Unit, Mr. Damilare Adewusi, encouraged participants to actively play their role in preventing and responding to incidents of sexual and gender-based violence that occur in their communities as they are major stakeholders in the society, assuring them that the State Government remains unrelenting in the zero-tolerance stance against all forms of SGBV 

The Executive Director, Centre for Women’s Health in Nigeria, Mrs. Atinuke Odukoya took the first discourse which was the overview of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence where she explained the various forms of abuse and the need for participants to be mandated reporters in their respective communities and place of work, adding that reporting cases of SGBV is mandatory

The representative of the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi took the second discourse which was on the relevant laws on SGBV. While stressing the Protection of Domestic Violence Law, 2015, the relevant provisions in the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 as well as the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law where the emphasis was on the infringements of the Offences as well as the punishment for each of the Offences.

Mrs. Tumininu Oni took the last discourse which was, exploring existing state structures. She explained the holistic approach to eradicating sexual and gender-based violence in the state. She encouraged participants to report any form of abuse through the toll-free number – 08000333333 of the Agency.