BY NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG
Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilayo Vivour-Adeniyi, has assured partners from the United Nations, African Union and European Union of the preparedness of the Lagos State Government to end Gender-Based Violence against women and girls, including Female Genital Mutilation, child marriage and other harmful practices.
She made the commitment at the Spotlight Initiative in Africa second yearly review and learning workshop in Lagos, while assuring the gathering that Lagos State government considered the issues very significant.
The global Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls is a United Nations initiative in partnership with the European Union and other partners.
Vivour-Adeniyi said: “A critical factor in winning the war against gender-based violence is political will. We are committed as a state to ensure full implementation of the spotlight initiative and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is changing the narrative.
“We know the role institutions play in ending gender-based violence. We understand the need for sustained advocacy and awareness. The need for data collection cannot be over-emphasied as data drives policy. We are fully committed towards implementation of the spotlight initiative.”
Lagos made history on February 1, 2018 when it established special courts for sexual offences, in a bid to secure quick discharge of justice.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, as well as, the Sex Offenders Register was assented to by Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on September 20, 2021 by a Bill of Law.
This Law establishes an Agency whose mandate is to provide and coordinate end to end response to incidents of Domestic and Sexual Violence in the State.
Between September 2021 and June 2022, the agency recorded over 4800 cases of domestic violence.
The DSVA has pursued a couple of cases to a logical conclusion like the sentencing of a 41-year-old teacher, Chukwu Ndubuisi, to life imprisonment for defiling his six-year-old pupil.
The agency also secured the conviction of celebrated actor, Olarewaju Omiyinka, better known as Baba Ijesha, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of child molestation.
Last week, the Lagos State Ministry of Education sealed the Greater Scholars International School in the Ajah area of the state over the alleged defilement of a four-year-old minor by a security guard, David James, attached to the school.
According to Vivour-Adeniyi: “A critical factor in winning the war against gender-based violence is political will. We are committed as a state to ensure full implementation of the spotlight initiative and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is changing the narrative.
“We know the role institutions play in ending gender-based violence. We understand the need for sustained advocacy and awareness. The need for data collection cannot be over-emphasied as data drives policy. We are fully committed towards implementation of the spotlight initiative.”
The Special Assistant to Resident Coordinator/Planning Specialist at the UN in Nigeria, Anu Varghese John, said although that GBV is deep-rooted, there is increased awareness as a result of the enactment of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in 26 states.
