Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), has continued its annual September Awareness Month with an advocacy walk tagged ‘Eko Men Walk.’
The sensitisation walk held at the heart of Ajegunle in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local government is part of the line up activities to mark this year’s event with the theme: ‘SGBV? Not On My Watch!.’
Speaking after the walk where over 500 men walked through Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government and Ifelodun Local Council Development Area while distributing fliers to the residents, the Executive Secretary, DSVA Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said that Eko Men Walk Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) was organised to ensure that the male folks are engaged to speak to their fellow men as well as reach out to the women about the menace.
Vivour-Adeniyi explained that the need to engage residents and inform them on relevant reporting channels and restate the state government’s zero tolerance for all forms of SGBV become imperative hence ‘Eko Men Walk’ idea was birt
hed.
She said the choice of the area was borne out of the increase in the cases of domestic violence recorded in the area, particularly on child abuse.
‘We are in Ajeromi Ifelodun purposely because of recent, we started to see very traumatic stories, incidents of especially child abuse emerging from this LG and LCDA and we thought instead of the normal routine of responding we thought we should be proactive to come in and engage the community to let them know of the different form of abuses, to know that these abuses attract jail terms and ignorance of the law is definitely not an excuse. But most importantly, let them know about support services that exist that they can take advantage of.
‘Two weeks ago we heard of a man who was using hot iron on the son’s bottom of and we have another one of a female child who was beaten for three years and the bruises are still all very her body. Those two children have to be rescued and they are currently placed in a home provided by the Ministry of Youth and Social De
velopment and the suspect has been arraigned.’
Increase Awareness
She maintained that the agency has seen steady increase in the informal reporting which is a testament to the awareness and reception of the people in the system, stressing that there is also increase awareness on the part of non-government organisations working in the community to raise awareness about SGBV and break the culture of silence.
‘Going forward, the Agency want to reduce the menace to the bearest minimum we want to kick out Domestic and Sexual Violence from Lagos and that is why we choose the theme for this year’s event, we are emphasising the collective role that everyone has to play to get this out of the society.’ she added
She however called on the residents of Lagos to give adequate support to the state government to further increase the awareness on Sexual and Gender Based Violence SGBN across the state
Good Initiative
The Chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Lucky Uduikhue
thanked Lagos State government for bringing the initiative to the fore, with a commitment that the information will be cascaded to the rest of the community to know the importance of ensuring violence free homes.
Some of the residents applauded the initiative of the state government to ensure family bonding and restoration of peace in every household is achieved.
They acknowledged the increase in the menace in the local area, but appreciated the intervention of the government which will further enlighten the residents of the area to desist from such dastardly act and allow formidable families in the community.
Source: Voice of Nigeria