Lagos Launches Mobile App To Tackle Domestic, Sexual Violence

The executive secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi on Tuesday launched the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Case Management System for swift intervention concerning domestic violence in the state.

Speaking at the launch of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Case Management System (DSVCMS), Vivour- Adeniyi  said the 2020 COVID pandemic with all the challenges that it brought presented an opportunity for service providers and the state to look inwardly, identify the lacunas in the system and re strategize on ways to enhance its service delivery.

In a bid to standardise its response mechanisms as it relates to domestic violence in the state, she said the Joint EU-UN Spotlight initiative provided support to the Lagos State government, through the development of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Unified Response Protocol and Referral Pathway Document which happened to be the first of its kind in country.

According to her, it was ratified in 2021, adding that part of the support was towards the development of a case management mobile application, adding that it is both mobile (Android and IOS) and web portal.

‘’As you would please appreciate, at the moment, the handling and management of sexual and gender based Violence cases, end to end, is done manually. From the filling of complaint forms, to printing referral letters to other referral/responder agencies, to dispatching letters, following up of cases, and other related manual processes.

‘’This therefore slows down the process of providing services, especially as sexual and gender based violence responders are duty bound to respond to incidents timeously.

‘’Whilst we have since implemented the Unified Response Protocol and referral Pathway (URPRP ) the mobile application (DSVMCS) has been in the testing phase for the past one year.’’

Vivour- Adeniyi explained that, ‘’The DSVCMS digitalizes management of cases, end to end, across the relevant responder agencies. At the touch of a button, relevant responder agencies are able to input details of cases and also update information of action taken. This information would be accessible to the entire eco system thereby increasing accountability and transparency.