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Ashafa links upsurge in domestic, sexual violence to sliding family values

By Bertram Nwannekanma
06 June 2016   |   2:13 am
Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport and Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, at the weekend linked the high incidence of domestic and sexual violence...
Senator Gbenga Ashafa

Senator Gbenga Ashafa

Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport and Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, at the weekend linked the high incidence of domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State to the downward spiral of family values and economic downturn in the society.

Speaking at the second Town Hall Meeting of his Senatorial District in conjunction with Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in Ketu, Lagos, Ashafa urged his constituents to guard their families jealously and ensure that no harm befalls any member of the family.

According to him, the report that the state recorded over 4,000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the last one year, “shows that all must become more attentive to the needs of our families and inculcate in the families the values of love, care, respect and mutual support.”

The Senator, who used the opportunity to reel out his achievements in the past one year, also donated physical cash and empowerment tools to survivors of domestic and sexual violence as well as indigent members of his constituents in the informal sector of barbing, sewing, catering, hairdressing and small-scale trading.

He said: “In the most recent times, the incidence of sexual and domestic violence has taken a turn for the worse in our society. Only recently, we were all shocked by the story of the man who allegedly murdered his wife for reasons best known to him. Stories like these have become more prevalent in our society and we must actively guard against it.”

Earlier, the director, Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, Omotala Rotimi, regretted the upsurge in sexual and gender-based violence in the state. According to her, all hands must be on deck to protect our families because even babies are not spared, following the report of a rape of a 60-day old baby.

She therefore urged the constituents to speak out in the event of any abuse and refuse to suffer in silence, as the state has put up mechanisms to deal with the scourge as well as prosecute perpetrators.

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