Lagos DSVRT releases report, kicks off DSV awareness month activities

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice/Chairman Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) has revealed that according to data, 4302 children have been assaulted in the state from May 2019 to August of this year; and of this number, 2432 were under the age of nine.

He added that 10, 007 cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and non-GBV cases was reported to them and analysis of the statistics revealed that 91% of women were abused while just 9% were men. In addition, 92% of adults in the age range of 18-45yrs had the highest cases reported and 73 per cent of Domestic Violence was reported for adults, which turned out to be the highest form of GBV against adults while 69% of emotional abuse was reported for children who have witnessed Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and other assaults.

Of the 20 Local Government Areas in the state, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikorodu and Ifako Ijaye LGAs recorded the highest reported incidents for both adults and children. “The GBV Virtual Referral and Response System launched this year was instrumental in ensuring survivors receive psychological first aid, legal advise, emergency and rescue intervention as appropriate. In view of our mandate to implement the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection, all reports of Child Protection Policy contravention in schools were duly responded to.

From May 2019 till date, the attention of DSVRT, Office of Education Quality Assurance as well as Department of School Social Work of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development has been drawn to incidents of Child Abuse in 37 schools and all erring schools were investigated.

“All the sexual violence related cases are being prosecuted and judgment has been secured in two of the cases. One school was shut down as a result of infractions, whilst one was requested to relocate in view of the safeguarding and child protection concerns raised during investigation This year alone, we’ve sadly lost five victims to DV all of which were escalated to the Police and Chief Coroner for a coroner’s inquest to be conducted with a view to ascertaining the cause of death, the outcome of which would greatly strengthen the case of the prosecution. Prosecution is ongoing in three of the cases whilst the remaining two suspects are currently on the run.”

He added that in the period under review, they have secured 365 convictions, launched the toll free GBV virtual response system, an e-training platform on safeguarding and child protection, developed the URPRP in partnership with the EU Spotlight Initiative, the Kings Club project, holistic management systems at health facilities and strengthened the capacity of private hospitals to provide Sexual Assault Management (SAM) services to survivors. Others include upgrading five additional FSUs in the state (Epe, Owutu, Ajegunle, Bariga and Okokomaiko), sustained community engagement in Ifako-Ijaiye, Somolu-Bariga, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo and Ikorodu as well as launching the DSV case management system.

Onigbnajo went on to add that since 2015, September has always been the DSV Awareness month and this year’s theme is “Institutionalising our Reforms”. He said activities to mark this month include the TURNALAUSAPURPLE Campaign, community engagement in Iba and Iyana-Ipaja, Safeguarding and Child Protection Day and a commendation and recognition night.