Lagos State government, through the State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), on Friday disclosed that it recorded about 24,955 gender-based sexual violence in the state between 2019 till date.
The government, however, expressed concern over the rising cases, saying that plans had been concluded to embark on massive advocacy campaigns across the local government areas of the state in a bid to curb the menace.
Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN and Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, revealed this at a media parley to commemorate the domestic and sexual violence awareness month and award night, held at Alausa, Ikeja.
Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN and Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA,Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, revealed this at a media parley held at Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate the domestic and sexual violence awareness month and award night.
The 2024 programme is themed: “Not On My Watch!!!.”
Pedro, represented by Acting Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Hameed Oyenuga, decried the rising cases of sexual based violence involving both sexes in the state, saying that ending the menace “is indeed a collective effort, which requires the support and collaboration of all members of society.”
“The theme of this year is based on the compelling need to ensure that Lagosians realize that ending the menace of Sexual and Gender Based Violence is indeed a collective effort, which requires the support and collaboration of all members of society.
“We, therefore, intend to engage all demographics including men, women and children,” he said.
Pedro said the agency will be holding the “Turn Alausa Purple campaign” to commemorate the month, noting that this would be preceded by a Circular from the Head of Service (HIS), directing all public servants to adorn the colour purple on September 2nd, 2024 to kickstart the month at the Secretariat Gate, Alausa, House of Assembly Gate and the Old Secretariat simultaneously.
According to him, others include Advocacy walks against Domestic and Sexual Violence, saying that the walk takes place at Local Governments where there are low reporting of cases.
He said the exercise would involve the paramount traditional rulers, community leaders, market men and women, religious clerics and other relevant stakeholders in the community.
“The Advocacy walk is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and the purpose of the advocacy walk is to educate and sensitize the citizens and residents of the state on the issues of SGBV and the available services that the state has to offer in curbing the menace.
“This walk will take place from Ile-Zik along the local Airport area to Ipodo Market at the Computer Village and within the Ikeja Local Government,” he said.
“Also, there will be Eko men walking to encourage men to see themselves as duty bearers in the fight against SGBV, shun any form of violence and also promote positive masculinity.
“This will also be an opportunity to shine the light on the fact that men can be victims/survivors and they should, therefore, be encouraged to speak up and give men the opportunity to speak with other men themselves,” he added.
According to him, the programme will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, within the Ajegunle area of Lagos State in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, saying that this was due to the the increased number of cases that had been received recently from that area.
“The increased number of cases that has been received recently from that area has informed our decision to have this walk in that area,” he said.
Speaking further, Pedro said the market fiesta was to educate people on gender and sex roles and how these social constructs encourage the perpetration of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, pointing out that the Agency had chosen to showcase the fiesta in the Alimosho community due also to the fact that the Local Government recommended the highest SGBV cases in the state.
“The purpose of the market fiesta is to educate people on gender and sex roles and how these social constructs encourage the perpetration of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
“We have chosen to showcase the fiesta in the Alimosho community and would involve physical engagement with members of the community in local markets within the Alimosho Area of the state.
“Statistics have continued to show Alimosho as the Local Government with the highest Local Government Area of occurrence of SGBV in the state,” he stated.
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