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Tag: domestic violence

  • STOP domestic violence against women

    STOP domestic violence against women

    In recent times, Nigeria has experienced a growing and disturbing trend of domestic violence against women.

    In simple terms, domestic violence can be described as the misuse of power by one adult in a relationship to control another. It is also the establishment of fear in a relationship through violence and other forms of abuse.

    This violence can take the form of physical assault, psychological, social and financial abuse; it could also be in the form of sexual assault.

    Research reveals that there is a preponderance of domestic violence cases especially in underdeveloped countries. This is shallow and bestial mentality of abusing the rights of women have been a major concern to the international community.

    Women are at the receiving end of the major cases of abuse in Nigeria. Amongst all the forms of abuse, physical and sexual abuse seems to top the chart in our dear country.

    According to World Health Organisation ( WHO ), there is an alarming population of women who had or are experiencing physical or sexual violence or both by an intimate partner. This shows how much women are being abused in a relationship by their male counterparts.

    In a patriarchal society like ours, domestic abuses and sufferings are sometimes tolerated and pandered as being part of the things to expect in a marriage.

    Truth be told, women are vulnerable, soft, fragile and in most cases not as strong as the man (physically); this puts them in a position to be exploited.

    Husbands who batter their wives are obviously sick and should either get a temporary or permanent accommodation in a psychiatric centre. They sometimes feel that they are exercising their manly rights, maintaining good order in the family and punishing their wives…phew! Such an overrated sense of masculinity!

    Domestic violence does not only cause physical injuries but also leaves its victim(s) with imprints of enduring emotional torture.  Although physical injuries can be seen and maybe treated, however, the extent of emotional wounds can only be imagined.

    Recently, the rate of depression and tendencies for suicide has been on the increase among youths and teenagers, especially of the female gender. Domestic abuse affects them academically, physically, psychologically and emotionally.

    Children who fall victim of domestic violence may develop serious emotional, behavioural, or academic problems. They are more likely to use violence in response to threats; they attempt suicide, abuse drugs, prone to committing crimes etc. Eventually, if they are not helped, they might turn out to be abusers in the future.

    Women are not just another item in the kitchen or the “other room”. They have as much right to education and ambition as much as their male counterparts.  The common labeling and tagging of the girl-child as a weaker vessel must be eschewed for us as a people to make significant progress.

    Around the world, women have begun to awaking to their full potentials. We now see women presidents and heads of parastatals and organisations.

  • Lagos records 950 domestic violence cases

    •DSVRT unveils SMS for reporting cases

    The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has attended to 950 domestic and sexual violence cases in the last nine months, its Alternate Chairman Mrs Omotilewa Ibirogba, has said.

    She made this known yesterday at the kick off of 6820 Short Message Service (SMS) code for reporting domestic and sexual violence cases.

    Ibirogba said the figure was about 100 per cent increase, compared to last year’s 452  cases.

    She also informed that 10 persons had been added to the sex offenders’ register this year, adding that the offenders were being monitored.

    Ibirogba said the short code was developed to ensure that every resident was able to report and receive prompt response to incidents of rape, domestic and child abuse.

    According to her, by dialling *6820# or sending an SMS to 6820, users will be given information on steps to take on their case.

    She said the major aim of the innovation is to ensure that survivors of abuses would be able to reach out to the appropriate agencies and receive timely information about what to do and, most importantly, know how to receive succour.

    “Aside from the immediate response this technology solution would provide victims, activating 6820 would also assist the state government in gathering and collating incident information, generating heat-maps within the metropolis, providing automated daily and monthly reporting, providing comprehensive central database, information system and analytics and providing central information that can also be used for the formulation of prevalence and prevention policies for Lagos State,” she said.

     

     

  • Lagos simplifies domestic violence reporting

    Lagos residents can report cases of sexual and gender based violence through a short message service, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    He spoke at a Commendation Night/Launch of Domestic and Sexual Violence Trust Fund & Resource Book by the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    The governor, represented  Secretary to the state government Mr Tunji Bello, said this would be done through sustained awareness initiatives and amplifying the usage of a “6820” service.

    He said the service provided by Airtel is a short message service code that can be used to report cases of sexual and gender based violence.

    Governor Ambode said DSVRT would be set up in all council secretariats.

    The governor said increase in DSVRT’s activities does not increase in cases of sexual and gender based violence.

    “It is actually a measure of growing confidence by victims to speak out and seek justice.

    “Our objective is to ensure that this criminal and reprehensible act is totally eliminated,” he said.

    Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said a new-inaugurated DNA and Forensic Centre was a significant step in the fight against crime, including rape and domestic violence.

    He praised DSVRT members for their achievements.

    A Director in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Omotola Rotimi, said DSVRT played active role in the formulation of a legal framework for combating the vice.

    She said anybody that comes in contact with a defiled child or attempts to shield an offender by not reporting it risks two years imprisonment.

    According to her, the new policy has been ratified into law by the state house of assembly through an executive order.

    She the team was also carrying out enlightenment programmes to sensitise the public and training students to make them aware of their rights.

     

  • Lagos records 852 domestic violence cases in nine months

    Lagos records 852 domestic violence cases in nine months

    The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) yesterday said it recorded 852 cases of domestic violence and related cases between January and September 2017.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, stated this at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, during the commemoration of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

    He said the number comprised 564 domestic violence cases, 60 defilements, 30 rapes, 11 attempted rapes, 123 child neglect and abuse cases and 84 others.

    Kazeem, who is also the Chairman of DSVRT, disclosed that the trend from the data showed an increase in men coming forward to report cases of domestic violence, adding that this year alone, 55 men came forward to report in contrast to 14 men that reported last year.

    He said the data revealed that most of sexual assault cases were perpetrated in the afternoon during weekdays, while corroborating that 95 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence are known to the victims, which according to him, necessitated the need to embark on sensitisation campaigns for parents on parenting skills and child abuse prevention tips as well as trainings for children on child’s rights, child abuse, safety and how to preserve evidence.

    While some of the cases have been charged to court, Kazeem said the government through the state Ministry of Youth and Social Development and other stakeholders, provided shelter for the survivors.

    Aside that, the Commissioner said all the survivors of sexual assault received medical attention from comprehensive Primary Health Care Centres and referral centres, among other efforts to properly rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the society.

    Kazeem, however, noted that under the present administration, the interventions of DSVRT were gradually breaking the silence around issues of sexual and gender based violence in the state.

    “There is a growing confidence urging people to speak out more, there is an astronomical increase in reporting of cases in the media. Lagos has indeed revolutionised the way sexual and gender-based violence is being tackled in Nigeria with all the pioneering initiatives of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode,” Kazeem said.

    Besides, the Attorney-General revealed that the state has concluded plans to launch a short service code that would afford residents the opportunity of reporting cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse and other related offences with ease.

    He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that victims of all forms of abuse reach out to the appropriate agencies and receive timely information on what to do and where to get assistance.

    “This would be achieved by members of the public using keywords, that is, ‘Child Abuse to 6820’ or *6820# and an interactive menu browser to get the relevant information from such users such as name, location, specific case or complaint which would in turn ensure that the whole response team is automatically activated.

    “Anybody that needs to report a case of child abuse, rape or domestic violence or requires a child or a woman to be rescued can make use of the platform and should receive timely and accurate information”, Adeniji said.

  • ‘Curbing domestic violence, a joint responsibility’

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has told Lagosians that curbing domestic violence, sexual assaults and other related cases is a joint responsibility of the government and the public, especially the Non- Governmental Organisations.

    Ambode spoke at the 4th anniversary of Mirabel Centre established by Partnership for Justice, a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO).

    Represented by Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner, Mrs Lola Akande, the governor praised the organisation for playing a leading role in the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.

    “We must lend our voices where needed to prevent any form of domestic violence and act swiftly to save victims of these acts,” he said.

    Partnership for Justice Managing Partner Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba, thanked the Lagos State Government, particularly Office of Public Defender, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and other partners for their support and sought for more cooperation.

  • Police, others seek end to rape, domestic violence

    THE  Nigeria Police, Lagos State Command, has been urged to take over the prosecution of gender cases, as well as the abuse of minors or women to ensure they get justice.

    Pleas from perpetrators or dropping of charges by relations or victims should no longer be accepted.

    These were part of the resolutions of participants at a forum where a non-governmental organisation, Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF) founder, Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru unveiled the report of her survey on sex abuse.

    They included the Nigeria Police, Office of the Public Defender, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, and WARIF.

    About 10 secondary schools from the state’s Education District IV enrolled were participated in the survey titled “The WARIF Educational School Programme (WESP).”

    WARIF, she said, was set up in  response to the high incidence of sexual assault, rape and human trafficking among young girls and women across the country.

    Dr. DaSilva-Ibru said one in four adolescents knew a survivor of rape, one in three identified the abuser as the father and one in every eight girls is willing to report a case of rape or sexual assault.

    The survey, she said, further revealed that 86 percent of the respondents, males and females, believe that sex education could help reduce rape and sexual assaults, and 52 percent of the boys noted that the type of films they watched (pornographic/sexualised images) were responsible for boys’ involvement in rape.

    She said WESP was  a  preventive initiative  implemented  by WARIF, two months ago.

    “The first phase of the initiative set out to establish the prevalence of sexual assault and rape cases among secondary school children in Lagos State, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, through a baseline survey administered. Over 1,000 questionnaires were distributed anonymously to school children between 13 and 16 in 10 selected government secondary schools.

    “The findings obtained were used to design and implement an intervention strategy (Phase 2,  WESP Initiative), consisting of a specifically designed curriculum introduced to the children, parents and teachers, to educate, create awareness and reduce the incidence of gender-based violence in these communities. The findings from the first phase of the baseline survey are now available. Through the WESP initiative, accurate data have been obtained on the prevalence of cases of sexual assault and rape in school children as well as identifying their patterns of behaviour.  This relevant data can be used in implementing important intervention strategies to assist in addressing gender based violence,“ Mrs. DaSilva-Ibru said.

    In response to the need for attention to victims at police stations, the Coordinator, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the DSVRT, in collaboration with the police, had sensitised family support units across the state.

    “Equipped with well-trained officers and practitioners, the family support units are geared towards ensuring that victims are given a fair hearing and offered strict confidentiality when sharing their grievances,” she said.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Bolaji Salam praised WARIF and the WESP initiative, saying the police were committed to ensuring that victims were not only given adequate attention at the family units but that offenders were brought to book.

    On family disputes where members prevent the law from taking its course, by pressuring the victim to withdraw the case or silencing the victim, especially under-aged or disabled, the Director of the Office of the Public Defender, Mrs. Bukola Salami, said the department was working towards ensuring that the state considered as a criminal offence the withdrawal of such cases. “That is a case of disrupting the law and same will be sued,”  Mrs Salami said.

    Dr. DaSilva-Ibru said the WESP initiative was ongoing and that the foundation would expand it and collaborate with the government and other organisations  to make it available to pupils across the nation.

    “And we can do more with financial support from both private and public sponsors,” she added.

  • Taming the monster called domestic violence

    Misunderstanding is a natural phenomenon that occurs between two or more people who live together either as husband and wife or as live-in lovers.

    In a family setting, quarrels between husband and wife may turn violent; with the man having the upper hand during the fray. The man may become violent during the dispute and mistreats the wife. In such situation, it becomes domestic violence or domestic abuse, battering, or family violence.

    Domestic violence can take a number of forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, and sexual abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to violent physical abuse.

    Globally, victims of domestic violence are overwhelmingly women. Unfortunately, women who are majorly victims of domestic violence do not speak out either because they are ashamed or they want to save the image of the family.

    Worried by this trend, the Sole Administrator, Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon Bayo Adefuye, has urged women to “speak out” on issues of domestic violence in their matrimonial homes.

    He spoke during a sensitisation workshop organised for women by Women of Rubies (WOR) (an online platform), in collaboration with Yaba LCDA.

    At the programme, Power Oil gave the participants groundnut oil had their blood pressure checked. Also, Access Bank gave out ballpoints and key holders to the participants.

    Adefuye, who was the keynote speaker, identified causes of domestic violence as jealousy, lack of trust, frustration, recession and either of the spouses being richer than the other, especially the husband.

    He said women are the ones that suffer domestic violence, urging them to talk to their husbands and find out the cause of the violent behaviours.

    According to him, men are not violent from the first day of marriage. Women must therefore know how to engage their husband.

    “Pray for him, understand him, make him happy, be watchful and do everything to calm him down,” he said.

    He urged men to stop being violent on their wives, saying women are meant to be nurtured and well taken care of.

    “Domestic violence affects women psychologically and it could make them raise children in the wrong way,” he said.

    He urged parents not to indulge in beating their children often, adding that when beating becomes much; it could lead to the children becoming rebellious.

    Founder/Editor-in-Chief, Women of Rubies, Esther Ijewere said the programme was designed to encourage, educate, empower and sensitise women to the need to “speak up” when they are abused.

    “We have also trained them on the need to embrace the savings culture. A lot of women are being empowered but they do not know how to save. We have also encouraged them to learn more skills beyond what they have already,” she said.

    Urging women to be financially independent, she advised men to learn to control and discipline themselves. They should learn the rule of “walking away” when they are angry so that they would not lose their level-headedness that will make them mishandle their wives.

    “Real men don’t beat women, because there is nothing to gain from it,” she said.

    Ijewere said Women of Rubies (WOR) is a reputable capacity-building and inspirational online magazine for the celebration of women of substance in the society. She said her passion for humanity, women and the girl-child motivated her to organise the programme.

    Founder, Self-Worth Organisation, Chinyere Anokwuru, who spoke on “Do Something”, shared her life experience which lifted her out of poverty to wealth.

    According to her, the only thing needed to break out of poverty is an idea.

    “When a woman has money, she has an edge. All women must have something doing. You need to talk to yourself and discover your God-given skills. There is no age in education, learning a trade, or starting a business. Change your mindset and be willing to change your situation.”

    To break out of poverty, Anokwuru said women must know what they want; what is needed to achieve; what they want and then go for it.

    “You need information and you will need to acquire more skills.”

    She told the women that the future of their family is in their hands, even as she urged them to wake up and not watch the future get destroyed when they can still do something about it.

    A human right activist, Bukola Ogunyeye said women must report cases of domestic violence, saying it is a criminal offence which has taken a lot of lives.

    “Women must speak out on domestic violence for safety. It is not something to be ashamed of; rather it should be the man that should be ashamed of beating his wife.

    “Domestic violence affects children. It makes them behave the same way when they grow up. It can lead to psychological trauma and make children hate their parents. It also makes women unhappy,” she said.

    A representative from Access Bank, Sandra Orgah, urged participants to save money in the bank for the purpose of interest and a secure future.

    A Nollywood Actor, Doris Simeon, who spoke on “Help is Near”, told the women never to bear domestic violence.

    “You can call 08102678442 or 08085753932 for assistance. You can also report to a police station or share your experience on social media to seek help,” she said.

  • Falana knocks churches, mosques for domestic violence

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has said cultural and religious institu-tions, especially churches and mosques, promote sexual and domestic violence.

    Falana vowed to challenge in court cultural practices such as the Oro Festival tradition of limiting women’s mobility through acts of violence in some parts of the country.

    He spoke at a symposium tagged: “It’s on us to end violence against women and children”,  organised by Access Bank’s Financial Control and Strategy Group in collaboration with Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    The symposium was organised to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and 16 days of activism against gender violence.

    Guests at the event included Access Bank’s chairperson Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Group Managing Director (GMD) Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Lagos Attorney-General Adeniji Kazeem, the state’s Solicitor-General Funlola Odunlami and Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.

    Falana accused some religious leaders of trivialising sexual and domestic offences, adding that when such leaders are implicated in such acts, their followers gang up against the victims for daring to make a complaint.

    He said: “If you report a case of rape, sometimes the community will gang up against you and you are stigmatised for ensuring that the law protects the victim.

    “If we are going to talk about the law against domestic violence, we must look at our Bible and Quran, religious institutions: they are the greatest promoters of domestic violence.

    “There’s no way you can run a modern society with what happened in the Old Testament. We have the New Testament because the Old was found to be not adequately relevant.”

    The Quran, he added, did not support discrimination against women and urged people in authority not to condone such acts.

    Falana also lamented that female police recruits were still not allowed to marry for the first three years without approval from their Police Commissioner, despite a court declaration banning the practice.

    Wigwe, in his opening remarks, said victims of such violence were usually reluctant to come forward because of fear.

    “This forum is long overdue, out duty is to mobilise public participation towards addressing this menace. Our little girls should be trained to dream big. As women, daughters and sisters, they deserve nothing less of us.”

     

  • Reprieve for victims as Lagos goes tough on sexual and domestic violence

    When Chika Okorie (not real name) walked down the aisle with her husband, Godwin, eight years ago, her joy knew no bounds.

    But looking back eight years after, Okorie wishes she could turn back the hand of the clock and take back every word she uttered while taking her wedding vows.

    As she managed to seat up on the floor of her room where she stayed all night crying, she could barely move her legs, her whole body was in pain and her face was swollen from the blows her husband gave her over a slight misunderstanding between them.

    She summoned courage and walked towards the   mirror in front of her and the picture she saw made her reflect on her journey in the last eight years, and then reality dawned on her that the only time she had enjoyed marital bliss was the few months after their wedding.

    For the eight years she lived with him, Roselyn was beaten more than 60 times. Sadly, her seven-year old son witnessed several sessions of the ugly incident.

    With each scar, came a sting of pain in her heart that kept multiplying until she ran for her dear life.

    Many women like Mrs. Okorie have found themselves in the same situation, albeit they have not been able to muster the courage to seek for help, preferring to endure the pain and suffering.

    Agnes, 32, who got married at the age of 22, said in the last 10 years she has had to endure physical battery at the slightest provocation of her husband.

    “He would beat me for as little as water that pours on the floor, he would abuse me in front of my children,” she recounted to our reporter.

    Asked why she has remained in a physical abusive marriage, Agnes said, “My mother told me to endure, even when I confided in my pastor, he said he will speak to my husband, despite that he still beats me”.

    Respite, however, may have come for victims like Mrs. Okorie and Agnes in Lagos, as the State Government has upped its ante against sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) crimes.

    This time, the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is leading the war from the front.

    Last Thursday, he led an All Male Walk against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), vowing that his administration would leave no stone unturned to ensure that all perpetrators of such crimes are made to face the wrath of the law.

    The procession took off from Ikeja under Bridge through Awolowo Way to Lagos House in Alausa and witnessed the participation of dignitaries from all walks of life, including members of the State Executive Council, members of the State House of Assembly, key government functionaries, entertainers, youths, artisans, workers, among others.

    Addressing participants at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Ambode, decked in a black T-shirt and armed with a placard with the inscription ‘Stop Rape, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse’, said it was time for men to stand up and take the bull by the horn in tackling the menace of SGBV in the society, as recent research has shown that women are more prone to being victims of these crimes.

    “There is also an evident trend of suppressing the voice of these victims due to the fact that these acts are perpetrated largely by men. We should not take for granted the potential exponential effect of having emotionally and psychologically damaged women in a society as the effect could transcend to their children who grow up in an environment, thinking this is the norm.

    While alluding to the fact that the State Government had initiated several programs ranging from the provision of legal aid, shelter and psychological counseling services to assist these women, he said it was also pertinent to address the violent behavior of men as it concerns Rape, Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

    In the governor’s words, “The scale of men’s violence against women is enormous and its effect, demoralizing. Men as grandfathers, fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and public advocates have a pivotal role to play in condemning all forms of violence against women, girls and boys.

    “We firmly believe that the way forward is to continuously engage the male folk as well as the community as a whole. Community engagement is an essential part of working to prevent and respond to all forms of Gender Based Violence.

    “As men, we must stand up and speak in one voice, condemning these acts. No more would we condone or tolerate peadophiles, women beaters and rapists. It is inhumane and totally unacceptable to protect or even ignore such behaviour when we see it manifesting in our environment”.

    Ambode, while commending participants of the Walk, urged them to remain ambassadors and flag bearers in the fight against domestic and sexual violence, adding “the  conversation must be sustained in our workplaces, religious institutions, residential areas, social media etc. If we all join hands and speak against this, we can truly make Lagos uncomfortable for perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”

    The governor also commended the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), organizers of the Walk, which simultaneously took place in Festac, just as he assured that his administration would continue to do more to ensure the rights and welfare of the most vulnerable in the State are adequately protected.

    “I will like you to join hands with me to say no to rapists, say no to women beaters and wherever they are, we know that the Task Force that we have set up will swing into action once it receives any petition from any member of the society. We are looking for the first 11 scapegoats whether highly or lowly placed in the society. We say no to domestic violence and sexual abuse,” Governor Ambode said.

    Notable celebrities including ace comedians, Alibaba, Teju Babyface, Omobaba and music artiste, Bez joined the walk to draw attention to the war against SGBV.

    According to the Alternate Chairman of DSVRT, Mrs. Omotilewa Ibirogba the State Government is more than determined to put an end to all forms of SGBV.

    She said in furtherance of the Team’s objectives to be a repository of data, a detailed research was carried out in February 2016 in all prison facilities in Lagos on sex convicts and inmates awaiting trial for SGBV cases.

  • Domestic violence: Lagos will be uncomfortable for perpetrators – Ambode

    Domestic violence: Lagos will be uncomfortable for perpetrators – Ambode