SGBV cases still rampant in Lagos communities – NGO


Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), has warned that cases of Social and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) are still rampant in Lagos communities.

Its Executive Director, Bose Ironsi, disclosed this in Lagos on Wednesday during a one-day stakeholders’ dialogue on SGBV for 60 traditional rulers and key influencers of opinion.

Ironsi said that WRAHP, in partnership with Canada Fund For Local Initiative, put on the Stakeholders’ dialogue to address SGBV in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA).

She said 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 societies.

“Today, WHO estimated that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

“Community risk is increased by lack of proper understanding of interventions for problems like SGBV.

Alimosho has the highest incidence of domestic violence in Lagos, especially sexual and gender-based violence.

“According to 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.

He added, however, that 50 per cent of the reports were made after 10 years of the subsistence of the marriage,” she said.

Ironsi said that WRAHP, through her project, titled “Improving Gender Equality and Protection from SGBV 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), is working to prevent SGBV among women and girls in Alimosho LGA.

She said that the NGO also wants to increase access for survivors to quality care and psychosocial support services.

The Executive Director said that WRAHP has successfully built the capacity of 30 Community ambassadors and champions from different community structures which include, but not limited to, Youth clubs, faith-based organisations, women’s and men’s associations to effectively report cases of SGBV in their communities.

She said that this dialogue was part of our effort to bring together 60 traditional rulers and key influencers of opinion in Alimosho LGA to have a better understanding of the Lagos State SGBV Law, prohibiting all forms of SGBV and to develop effective strategies to enforce the Lagos State law in each of the six LCDAs in Alimosho LGA.

She said that discussions surrounding stakeholders’ effort in addressing SGBV in Alimosho will also be discussed.

A traditional ruler, Oba Kolawole Ajani Egundupe, said that the NGO had enlightened him on various issues and topics surrounding SGBV.

Egundupe said that it now behoves on him to go and preach it in his kingdom.

He commented WRAHP for the bold steps it embarked upon to bring SGBV to the barest minimum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a legal expert had earlier enlightened the participants on how to strengthen the role of stakeholders, Lagos State SGBV laws and how to implement them.

NAN also reports that there was a panel session on stakeholders’ efforts in addressing SGBV in Alimosho and adoption of communique to protect women and girls against SGBV in Alimosho LGA.