Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), has charged community leaders to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and report cases without fear or favour.
Executive Secretary, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi gave the charge on Tuesday in Ikeja at a one-day training for community leaders, themed: “Community Leaders: Flag Bearers in the Fight against SGBV”.
Vivour-Adeniyi, represented by the Head of Community Engagement Department at DSVA, Damilare Adewusi said that community leaders are flag bearers in the fight against SGBV by virtue of their positions.
She noted that community leaders are key actors in addressing and preventing SGBV and should be impartial when dealing with cases reported to them, adding that community leaders can influence decisions, policies and initiatives to address and prevent SGBV as well as shape community responses.
The Head of Case Management Unit of DSVA, Timininu Oni, in her delivery said that gender-based violence affected every person directly or indirectly.
Oni also noted that SGBV was rooted in gender inequality, patriarchy and power imbalance describing gender-based violence as any violence which targeted individuals or groups based on their genders.
The Head of Legal Department of DSVA, Yetunde Odekunle said that there were laws guarding against SGBV in Lagos State in her presentation, noting that the laws included the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2015; Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015; and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021.
She said that the laws were not to protect women alone, but were also to protect men, boys and girls against domestic violence.
Chairman, Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, Azeez Amusat said the training has given community leaders more knowledge about sexual harassment, sexual abuse and domestic violence within communities.
