Martins Ifijeh
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has launched a resource book on sex abuse and gender based violence, with a call on well-meaning Nigerians to support government efforts to rid the state of the practice.
Ambode who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, during a dinner to wrap up activities marking the Domestic Violence Month, organised by Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, said now was the time to confront the monster of domestic and gender based violence head on in the society.
The governor praised the efforts of DSVRT in the past two years, saying that the team’s achievements have helped to raise the bar in seeking justice and welfare for victims of various forms of abuses in the state.
‘‘Under this administration, the intervention of DSVRT is gradually breaking the silence around issues of sexual and gender based violence in Lagos State. There is a growing change in the culture, and people are increasingly confident to speak out, and we have seen an astronomical increase in the reporting of cases in the media. Lagos State has indeed revolutionised the handling of sexual and gender based violence in Nigeria, with all the pioneering initiatives that the DSVRT has been empowered to implement. The legacy has been set in Lagos State, and the pursuit for excellence will continue,’’ Ambode stated.
The book titled ‘Overcoming Sexual and Gender Based Violence: The Lagos State Experience’ contains contributions from various individuals and organisations working to safeguard victims of sexual abuse and gender based violence how the State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team has tackled different cases, using multi-level approach.
Also, the governor launched the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team Trust Fund.
In an interview, the Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the book was a resource tool, which highlights the numerous interventions embarked upon by the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team.
‘‘To highlight the practicality and intensity of DSVRT procedures, this resource tool also shares the first hand stories of some survivors and details how their cases were handled.
‘‘This book will serve as an invaluable resource tool in which all stakeholders, responder agencies and other jurisdictions can learn from the Lagos State experience,’’ Vivour-Adeniyi said.
