By Felix Kuyinu
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, has marked it’s 10th year anniversary on activities to curtail sexual based and domestic violence.
The body in a symposium recently held in the state tagged “Are We Doing Enough? A Consideration of Lagos States Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Last Decade”, reiterated it’s objective of ensuring heightened awareness of the menace of sexual crimes and it’s negative impacts to the society.
The event which was organized in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and funded by the European Union was designed to review the effectiveness of the state government’s efforts in the last decade to effectively address Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
Executive Secretary, DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said that the symposium was organized to involve stakeholders strategize ways of countering the challenges with prompt and proactive measures.
Vivour-Adeniyi said, “Sexual crimes are perpetrated behind closed doors and l violate the fundamental rights of individuals. Efforts must be geared towards breaking the culture of silence and creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors.
“In the last 10 years, the state government has continued to demonstrate its commitment to combating all forms of sexual and gender-based violence through the enactment of relevant laws, formulation of policies and creation of institutions which will be enhanced going forward..
“The goal of this symposium is to formulate actionable strategies that will enhance the State’s prevention and response to SGBV in the years to come.
Keynote speaker at the event, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa of the University of Lagos, called for an expansion of government and public collaborations.
Atsenuwa also stressed on the need for an increase in funding and logistics for the stakeholders to carry out proper investigations.
The professor also canvassed for localization of DSVA activities in local communities so as to raise more public awareness and ensure there is a community accountability model where all strata in the community are accountable to the idea of issues of domestic and sexual violence.
In addition, she emphasized on the need of catering for the need of the crime survivors who have come out to report cases of the dastadly act.
