The Lagos State Government has raised alarm over high rate and increase in cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the state, stressing that the number of cases that we have recorded in the last four years is worrisome.
Penpushing reports that Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, raised the alarm on Friday at a press conference to announce programmes for the s 2024 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month in the state which has the theme, “SGBV, Not On My Watch.”
The Commissioner represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Hammed Oyenuga, disclosed that the number of sufferers of sexual and gender-based violence in the state, particularly in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, was alarming, explaining that the awareness month would focus on the council area owing to its high cases of SGBV.
“We chose to take our sensitisation programme to Ajeromi-Ifelodun because the number of cases that we have recorded in the last four years is worrisome. The theme of this year’s activities is, ‘SGBV, Not On My Watch’, he said.
‘This is based on the compelling need to ensure that residents realise that ending the menace of SGBV is indeed a collective effort, which requires the support and collaboration of all members of society. We, therefore, intend to engage all demographics, including men, women and children,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that he stated that the sensitisation programme in Ajeromi-Ifelodun would be held on September 9, 2024, at the council secretariat adding that other programmes planned for the month included Turn Alausa Purple, Men Wey Sabi, Market Fiesta and Governor’s Award.
The executive secretary of Lagos State Sexual and Domestic Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi in her remarks said reports of the number of abused children in Ajeromi were heartbreaking, adding that the Alimosho council area had been number one for violence against women.
Penpushing also reports that Vivour-Adeniyi explained that some of the pictures the agency have are too gory, that’s why the authorities feel the need to go sensitise people in this particular local government,
The programme would kick off with Turn Alausa Purple on September 2,2024 with civil servants wearing purple vests and, there will be an advocacy walk on September 4, 2024 which will take off at Ile Zik and terminate at Ipodo Market, around Computer Village.
Meanwhile, the symposium for the 2024 edition is titled” Are We Doing Enough? A Decade of Reflection and Action’, and the programme is geared at reviewing the state’s progress in responding to SGBV in the past 10 years.
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