2m Lagos residents to be enlisted in fight against domestic, sexual violence ―Vivour-Adeniyi

Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) said it has begun a 6-month intensified campaign against all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the state with a target to reach out to 2 million residents to lead the crusade against the menace.

Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this during a training session for Media Practioners on Best Practices for Investigating and Reporting Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases.

Vivour-Adeniyi said the development was in a bid to ensure that no community was left behind in the fight against all forms of SGBV, disclosing further that the Agency would be embarking on intensive sensitisation campaigns at communities like Fagba, Ajuwon, Surulere, Ikeja, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Iwaya, Epe, Badagry, Onike, Ijanikin, Ojo, Idimu, Lagos Island, Alimosho and Agege.

According to her, inner communities in Badore, Sangotedo, Oke Yaya, Owutu would also not be left out of the intensive campaign to reach out to at least 2 million Lagosians.

“The campaign will be conducted through door-to-door canvassing, engagement of children in schools, town hall meetings, market rallies, engagement at religious gatherings, and visitation to salons.

“There would also be an extensive media outreach through billboards, radio and television jingles in English, pidgin and other indigenous languages,” she said.

Vivour-Adeniyi added that the team would ensure that relevant details on domestic violence prevention were distributed through Local Governments and Marriage Registries to intending couples.

She said the aim of the six months intensive campaign was to drive increased awareness within the populace, improve on coordination of response and more effective prosecution of cases with better witness corroboration, and ultimately a reduction in the number of SGBV cases within the state.