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Tag: sexual offence

  • ‘Conceal sexual offence, get three-year jail term’

    ‘Conceal sexual offence, get three-year jail term’

    The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has warned Lagosians to stop protecting sexual offenders.

    DSVA Executive Secretary, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said that whoever protects sexual offenders would be liable to three years imprisonment.

    She stated this during an outreach programme with members of Ojodu LCDA’s Community Development Committee (CDC) at their monthly CDA  meeting held last week as part of the ongoing efforts to further propagate the SGBV message.

    Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi said this is in keeping with the agency’s mission to eradicate sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Lagos.

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    She emphasised that the value of the ongoing communication with CDAs was to ensure the message gets to every member of the society as much as possible.

    She stressed that concealing a sexual offence is punishable under the law and could warrant a three-year jail term.

    She  urged participants to speak up timely as required reporters when such situations occur within their community to ensure justice is served to perpetrators of SGBV crimes.

     Chairman of the CDC, Pastor Segun Fayemi, while welcoming the visiting delegation, gave an outline of the organisation’s goals.

    He expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for taking the lead and promised the community leaders’ ongoing assistance in getting rid of the menace.

    The Agency’s Community Engagement Representative, Ms. Opemipo Ogunse, briefed participants on the gravity of sexual and gender-based violence and outlined the reporting guidelines.

    She described the agency’s services, the cooperation with the Police Family Support Unit (FSU), and appropriate reporting procedures.

    The  questions and answers session allowed for interactions for community members to be very open.

      SGBV awareness materials were distributed to the attendees to further enlighten them and were given access to the toll-free number 08000 333 333.

  • 10,000 sexual offence survivors, others get DSVA support

    10,000 sexual offence survivors, others get DSVA support

    • By Joshua Uche

    The Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA),  Mrs Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi has said that the agency, since its establishment, has  provided services to over 10,000 survivors including adults and children.

    Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi said the agency was able to achieve this with the unrelenting support and political will of the state government, the police and the collaboration of stakeholders.

    She stated this in her opening address delivered at a one-day interactive SGBV Case Conference with Divisional Police Officers, (DPOs),  Officers in Charge of Family Support Units (OCs) and Officers in FSUs in the Lagos Police Command.

    The event held at Amber Residence  Hotel, Ikeja-GRA.

    While reiterating the Lagos State’s zero tolerance stance against all forms of SGBV crimes, she noted that SGBV remains a globally pervasive human rights violation.

    According to her, statistics has shown that one in three women worldwide will experience physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of men at some point in their lives and with the establishment of the Lagos DSVA, preventing and responding to these heinous crimes is the Agency’s core mandate.

    Mrs. Vivour -Adeniyi revealed that since the establishment of  the agency,  it has provided services to over 10,000 survivors including adults and children with the unrelenting support and political will of the state government, the police and the  support of stakeholders.

    “The ultimate aim of this gathering is to reinforce our commitment to eradicating SGBV from our  dear state,  as you may know that it is not over until it is over. We must constantly educate ourselves and be open minded to embrace new ideas, and new techniques, identify our challenges and proffer solutions that would improve outcomes for Survivors of SGBV.

    Mrs Vivour- Adeniyi, who   gave a background to burgeoning issues of Sexual and Gender Based Violence SGBV, said the one-day interactive engagement with the law enforcement agents was strategically aimed at addressing and effectively responding to cases of SGBV. 

    In her goodwill message,  the Project Coordinator,  The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme Phase II, Mrs. Ajibola Ijimakinwa said the programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA).

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    Project Coordinator said: “The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to the consolidation of the rule of law and anti-corruption reforms in Nigeria.  Component 2 of the Programme is seeking to improve access to justice for vulnerable women, children, juveniles, persons with disabilities and victims of sexual and gender-based violence by strengthening inclusive policy, institutional and operational frameworks for access to justice and improving availability of referral and legal aid services for vulnerable persons”

    “RoLAC 2 is collaborating with the DSVA to engage with Divisional Police officers and the officers of the Family support unit to facilitate discussions on how to improve access to justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The Police are encouraged to conduct more thorough investigations, gather necessary evidence, and adhere to proper procedures, ultimately leading to a higher rate of successful prosecutions” Ijimakinwa said.

    Ijimakinwa also revealed that the programme will be implemented over a period of five years 2023 – 2027 at the Federal and in five states including Lagos.

    Also at the conference,  General Manager Lagos State Office for Disabilty Affairs (LASODA), Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo, presented a paper on Disability Inclusion in handling SGBV cases.

    CSP Grace Agboola, OC,  Gender Desk Department gave an overview of the establishment,  importance and functions of the Family Support Unit.

    Head, Case Management DSVA,  Mrs. Tumininu Oni, reeled out data on SGBV cases and the efforts of the agency in the adjudication of Justice for Survivors.

    Representing the Director for Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins,  from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Ms.  Inumidun Solarin interfaced with the officers on the salient underlings during investigations and challenges faced by FSUs in ensuring justice.