The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC), has held a roundtable discussion with representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations to review past activities in a bid to strengthen the existing synergy and collaboration between the Agency and NGOs on sexual violence in the State.
In her address at the meeting, which took place recently at Pearlwort Hotel & Suites, Alausa, Ikeja, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, stated that for transparency and accountability purposes, it was important to brief relevant NGOs on the activities of the agency in the past year.
Whilst presenting the scorecard of the agency from January to December, 2021, the Executive Secretary informed the participants of the various interventions of the State Government, noting that the Agency had provided services to 3943 survivors, 2721 adults and 1222 children in the past 12 months on issues relating to domestic and sexual violence.
She stated further that, according to its report, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikeja, Ikorodu and Eti-Osa Local Government Areas had recorded the highest occurrences of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the whole of Lagos State in the period under review.
Whilst responding to some of the issues raised by participants, Vivour-Adeniyi reiterated the State government’s zero-tolerance to all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, urging the representatives of the Non-Governmental Organisations at the forum to continue being proactive in the fight against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Lagos State.
Representatives of the Non-Governmental Organisations also shared some of their success stories such as the successful sensitisation programmes held at various schools, markets and communities to raise awareness against domestic and sexual violence in Lagos. They, however, complained of lack of funding, institutional challenges and withdrawal of cases by some of the victims due to external pressure.
About 30 representatives from Non-Governmental Organisations whose thematic areas are sexual violence in Lagos State attended the event.
