LAGOS SENSITISES MUSHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESIDENTS ON SEXUAL, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) on Thursday held its fifth Local Government Town Hall meeting at Mushin Local Government Secretariat to sensitise residents on the rising cases of domestic and sexual violence across the State.
Speaking at the event with the theme: “It’s on us to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence”, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the forum was organised to increase awareness about domestic and sexual violence amongst members of the community, inform them of the provisions of the law and support services available for victims and survivors.
She stated that statistics in the past year showed a high prevalence of SGBV in Mushin Local Government Area, hence the need for all participants present to join hands with the Government in the fight against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
The Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr. Emmanuel Bamigboye, represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Babatunde John Kehinde, encouraged residents of Mushin to speak up if they are subjected to violence in order to curb the rate of SGBV in society.
Mrs. Ronke Oyelakin, the Chairman of Child Protection Network, enlightened the audience on the various forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, urging people to stop victim-blaming as this could discourage survivors from reporting incidents of violence.
She maintained that residents of Mushin must endeavour to be active bystanders and expose abusers.
On her part, Dr. Adeola Obasanya, the Adolescent Focal Person of the Primary Healthcare Board, informed participants about the medical centres available to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Mushin, listing them as Ayantuga PHC, Mushin PHC and Palm Avenue PHC.
She, therefore, charged sexual assault survivors to report immediately to any of the aforementioned hospitals to seek medical attention free of charge.
The meeting had in attendance over 200 stakeholders drawn from Community Development Associations and Councils, Community Development Authorities, religious leaders, traditional rulers, market men and women, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, artisans, captains of industries as well as other relevant stakeholders.
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PIX 1-7: Images at the DSVA’s Town Hall meeting held at Mushin Local Government Secretariat to sensitise residents on the rising cases of domestic and sexual violence across the State.
