Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has restated the commitment of his administration to eradicate sexual and gender-based violence in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, who stated this the 2024 Governor’s Commendation and Awards Night, hosted by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) in area of the state, said the various initiatives and advocacy programmes carried out by the agency towards raising public awareness, rehabilitating victims and ensuring justice for domestic and sexual violence offenders have significantly and positively impacted the target audience by encouraging more victims to speak out and end the cowardly culture of silence.
The governor, whom his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented, stressed the critical need for additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to enhance support for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
He noted that while there are currently three SARCs operational in the state, the growing population demands more, saying, “With 20 local governments and a population exceeding 20 million, three centres are simply insufficient. The demand for services is significant, given the volume of cases we deal with.”
Sanwo-Olu said, “The blame and shame game is in full swing, and we are seeing progress,” adding that, since the establishment of the DSVA in 2014, the Lagos State government has demonstrated unwavering commitment to providing holistic support for victims of domestic and sexual violence while ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.
“The theme for the 2024 activities, ‘SGBV, Not On My Watch,’ is more than just a slogan; it is a rallying cry for collective action against this menace,” he stated.
He urged the involvement of religious leaders, community heads, families, and individuals in the fight against SGBV, emphasising that it is a shared responsibility, not solely that of the government or the agency.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, revealed that the agency has handled over 25,000 cases over the past decade. She noted that sustained advocacy efforts have resulted in a direct correlation between increased awareness and higher reporting rates of SGBV incidents.
“We are gradually breaking the culture of silence and encouraging individuals to speak up. It has been a remarkable journey, and we have seen increased faith in the system,” she said.
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