Lagos handles 10,007 domestic, sexual violence cases in 2 years

 

. Records five deaths in eight months, reports 2,980 emotionally abused children

 

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Moyosere Onigbanjo (SAN) on Wednesday revealed that the State Goverment had handled not less than 10,007 domestic and sexual violence cases.

 

Onigbanjo made the disclosure during a media parley in Alausa as part of activities lined up for the commemoration of 2021 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.

 

The event was being conducted through the State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) which had also recorded 2,980 cases of children that had been emotionally abused.

 

According to the Commissioner who is also the Chairman of DSVRT, the 1st of September, 2021, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team in partnership with the Office of the Head of Service launched the maiden #TurnAlausaPurple Campaign.

 

The Team is set to organise Town Hall Meetings on Domestic and Sexual Violence, with a view to engaging and sensitising residents of Iba and Iyana Ipaja Local Governments on SGBV as well as the services available to survivors. The community engagements are slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, 14th & 15th of September, 2021.

 

A Commendation night / Dinner will be held last week of September, 2021 to celebrate officers and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

 

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) is a platform that provides a coordinated response and creates levels of collaboration among professionals working to end Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the State.

 

The DSVRT provides an essential avenue for survivors and third parties to report cases of domestic, child and sexual abuse.

 

The vision and activities of DSVRT are in complete alignment with Mr. Governor’s THEMES Agenda, particularly, the pillars of Health, Education, Security and Good Governance.

 

From May 2019 till August 26th 2021, the Team had handled 10,007 cases which are into two categories, Adults & Children.

 

The breakdown showed that 4,150 Domestic Violence, 177 Rape, 255 Attempt to commit rape/Sexual Assault,  246 Sexual Assault by penetration/Threat and 877 Others (Separation, Not taking responsibilities of child(ren), Neglect, custody of the child, Non-GBV, etc.).

 

436 Child Abuse/Physical Assault,  271 Defilement cases,  13 Defilement by Minor to Minor, 454 Child Labour, Abduction Neglect/Others and 148 Sexual Harassment/Molestation cases.

 

It was also disclosed that a total of 2,980 children have experienced emotional abuse (i.e these children have been exposed to Domestic Violence within the home).

 

Onigbanjo stated that “Some of these children have been taken through counselling programs to ensure they are able to psychologically deal with the events they have witnessed without it having a permanent and negative impact on them.

 

It was also made known that since May 2019, the Team began to attend to on average 150 new cases monthly.

 

The Attorney-General said, “In 2021 alone, the Team has sadly received reports of five victims of Domestic Violence who have died, all of which were escalated to the Police as well as the Chief Coroner of Lagos State for a coroner’s inquest to be conducted with a view to ascertaining the cause of death, the outcome of which would greatly strengthen the case of the prosecution. Prosecution is ongoing in 3 of the cases whilst the remaining two suspects are currently on the run.

 

 

“We have also witnessed an increase in reporting of cases from other States, mostly from Ogun and Oyo State. In the past two years, a total of 526 cases occurred outside Lagos. Such cases are promptly referred to the relevant agencies in their respective States.”

 

According to the Commissioner, “Under Mr Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, DSVRT has received a total of 10,007 reported cases which include Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence perpetrated against Adults & Children.

 

“Within the period, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had secured over 365 convictions for various Sexual offences, including Rape, Defilement, Sexual Assault by Penetration and Sexual Assault.

 

“The Office of the Public Defender, Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership (LPILP) as well as the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) provided free legal representation to 188 survivors of Domestic Violence, ranging from Judicial Separation, Divorce, Custody of children, Mediation and Settlement.

 

“As regards provision of shelter for survivors, the Ministry of Youth & Social Development, as well as strategic partner Non-Governmental Organisations, including God’s Home for Women, Day Spring, Project Alert and Cee Hope have played key roles in ensuring rescued survivors are evacuated to a safer environment of shelter homes.

 

“All the survivors of Sexual Assault received medical attention from Comprehensive Primary Health Care Centres, General Hospitals and Sexual Assault Referral Centres like Mirabel Centre, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) as well as Idera Centre.

 

“In view of DSVRT’s mandate to implement the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection, all reports of Child Protection Policy contravention in schools were duly responded to. From May 2019 till date, the attention of DSVRT, Office of Education Quality Assurance as well as Department of School Social Work of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development has been drawn to incidents of Child Abuse in 37 schools.

 

“All erring schools were investigated by the Office of Education Quality Assurance in the Ministry of Education. All the sexual violence related cases are being prosecuted by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, judgment has been secured in 2 of the cases. One school was shut down as a result of infractions, whilst one was requested to relocate in view of the safeguarding and child protection concerns raised during investigation,” Onigbanjo stated.

 

In 2021, the Team had provided services to 10 Persons with Disabilities who were experiencing one form of Gender Based Violence or the other.

 

The DSVRT in partnership with the Office of the Commissioner of Police had upgraded additional five Police Divisions to the status of Family Support Units.

 

It was done to complement the existing 12 Family Support Units in the State. The Family Support Unit is the designated police station to report Domestic and Sexual Violence cases to. The Unit has trained personnel and have been equipped with the relevant tools to professionally discharge their statutory  duties.

 

The newly upgraded Family Support Units include- Epe (0906-288-7850), Owutu (0906-288-7850), Ajegunle (0906-288-7866), Bariga (0906-288-6859) and Okokomaiko Division (0906-288-7868).

 

The Team also engaged in community engagement to promote the awareness of the establishment of the DSVRT Virtual Referral Response Services to the general public in rural and urban communities in selected local government areas of Lagos State.

 

The Community engagement focused entirely on five Local Government areas of Lagos State. These LGAs were selected because a number of factors such as; number of cases being reported and accessibility to the DSVRT services.

 

The Local Government areas are Ifako-ijaiye, Somolu (Bariga), Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo and Ikorodu (Owutu) where an estimated 600,000 residents had been reported to have been