WRAHP partners Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, holds stakeholders Dialogue on SGBV in Alimosho LGA
Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) Managers of IRETI Resource Centre in partnership with Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, has held a one day Stakeholders’ dialogues on SGBV for 60 traditional rulers and key influencers of opinion in Alimosho LGA, Lagos State.
The well attended event took place at Egbe-Idimu Community Town Hall, Lagos State on 31st January, 2024.
Bose Ironsi, the Executive Director (WRAHP) stated that Girls and women are inappropriately affected by all forms of violence which include sexual assault and harassment, domestic, verbal, emotional and gender-based violence in homes and society, adding that today, World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women has been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner and non-partner violence in their lifetime.
She said that Community risk is increased by a lack of proper understanding of interventions for problems like SGBV.
Ironsi added that Alimosho has the highest incidence of domestic violence, especially sexual and gender-based violence. She said “According to the data made available by the Attorney General of Lagos State, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), received over 4,800 cases from September 2021 to July 2022 with Alimosho recording the highest number of cases for both adults and children.”
Ironsi said that Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) through her project titled “Improving Gender Equality and Protection from Sexual and Gender Based Violence for Women and Girls in Lagos State through capacity building, awareness-raising and psychosocial support services” with support from Canada Fund For Local Initiatives (CFLI) aimed to prevent sexual and gender-based violence among women and girls in Alimosho LGA, Lagos State and increase access of survivors to quality care and psychosocial support services.
“We have successfully built the capacity of 30 Community Ambassadors/Champions from different community structures which include but are not limited to Youth clubs, faith-based organisations, women and men associations, etc. to effectively report cases of SGBV in their community.”
According to her the dialogue was part of effort to bring together 60 traditional rulers and key influencers of opinion in Alimosho LGA to have better understanding of the Lagos State GBV Law prohibiting all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and to develop effective strategies to enforce the Lagos State law in each of the 6 LCDAs in Alimosho LGA. Discussions surrounding stakeholders’ effort in addressing SGBV in Alimosho were also discussed.”
The stakeholders comprised representatives from law enforcement institutions, government agencies and ministries including the judiciary, private corporate organizations, community and religious leaders, civil society organizations and networks, etc. “This project is being implemented by the Women’s Rights and Health Project with Funding support from the Canada Fund For Local Initiative (CFLI). We are well aware that issues of SGBV cases are still rampant in communities in Lagos State, and it is our responsibility to ensure we follow up on our efforts to address the menace,” Ironsi added.
HRM Oba Kolawole Ajani Ogundipe, Olu of Ikpaja Kingdom, on his part, gave assurances that he would take whatever he learnt at the meeting back to his people in order to maintain the existing peace in his kingdom. He also frowned at a situation whereby people come to beg on behalf of those who commit gender based violence and other heinous crimes, adding that the law should be allowed to take its course.
Mrs Bello Oluwakemi, Head, Field Operations Department, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, said the training with the stakeholders on SGBV is to talk about the way forward on how to put a stop to the menace of SGBV. “How can we collaborate, how can we work together to put it to an end? We have been doing enlightenment, advocacy, we have been moving round, we are doing town hall meetings with communities, we are going to schools, talking to children, putting plans in place. Like we have what we called our Kings’ Club and Queens’ Club to talk to the children, sensitise them, on the dangers of domestic violence, sensitise them on SGBV. So if you are a king you behave like a king and if you are a Queen, behave like a Queen.
“So we are fighting it from the grass-root. When these children go out they would be the ones to also advocate, we are setting them up to be advocates of SGBV, talking to their peers, talking among themselves, so that in the future we don’t continue with this problem we are having with adults,” Bello stated.
Speaking on the challenges her agency is facing carrying out their function, she said “The challenge is that when a case of SGBV is committed and we are trying to deal with it, you know, the perpetrators should be allowed to face the consequence, but you would see people coming around to beg on their behalf, saying that it is a family thing, we can settle it. Even when a survivor is coming to make report, the synergy to fight it will be reduce by the time you get to court. Some would, they are no longer interested in prosecuting the matter, after we have taken steps in taking the matter to court.”
