Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has handled 10,007 cases of Domestic and Sexual Violence involving Men, Women and Children from May 2019 to August 2021.
The Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) made the disclosure at a Media Parley organised to give account of the performance of DSVRT in commemoration of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month at Alausa, Ikeja.
He noted, against the backdrop of rising cases of Domestic and Sexual Violence, incessant Child abuse. Hence the need to continuously prosecute perpetrators in the state.
“Between the period, May 2019 to August 2021, 4150 Domestic Violence, 177 Rape, 255 Attempt to commit rape/Sexual Assault, 246 Sexual Assault by penetration/Threat, 877 Others (Separation, Not taking responsibilities of child(ren)Neglect, custody of the child, Non-GBV, 436 Child Abuse/Physical Assault, 271 Defilement cases, 13 Defilement by Minor to Minor , 454 Child Labour, Abduction Neglect/Others, 148 Sexual Harassment/Molestation cases were handled by the state through the Domestic Violence and Sexual Response Team (DSVRT)”, Onigbanjo said.
The Commissioner added that, Since May 2019 the DSVRT received about 150 new cases monthly, saying that the state also witnessed an increase in reporting of cases from other States, mostly from Ogun and Oyo State.
“In the past 2 years, a total of 526 cases occurred outside Lagos. Such cases are promptly referred to the relevant agencies in their respective States”, He noted
Onigbanjo also stated that a total of 2980 children have experienced emotional abuse and have been taken through counseling programs to ensure they fit in back to the society without a negative psychological impact on them.
In his words, “ The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team which was conceived in September 2014 is in alignment with the “THEMES” Agenda of Governor Sanwo-olu’s led administration, particularly, the pillars of Health, Education, Security and Good Governance”.
“By virtue of the Team’s various initiatives, as well as the zero tolerance declared in the state, DSVRT has continued to see a steady increase of formal reportage of cases in the state”.
The Commissioner noted that the notable achievement’s of the Ministry of Justice stems from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) which has secured over 365 convictions for various Sexual offenses, including Rape, Defilement, Sexual Assault by Penetration and Sexual Assault” said Onigbanjo.
He added, To ensure that survivors/ victims are able to access care at all levels, the Team partnered with Ford Foundation in building capacity of designated and pilot private hospitals in order to provide sexual assault management services to survivors which is located across the metropolis.
Onigbanjo said, the DSVRT Team also partnered with various institutions such as the Office of the Commissioner of Police, the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, Joint European Union Funded Spotlight Initiative, The King’s Club Project amongst others in a bid to proffer better solutions to curb this menace and promote the awareness of Domestic and Sexual Violence in the state.
While speaking on the outlined activities to commemorate the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, the Chairman DSVRT, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo stated, that the awareness would run for a month with a launch of #TeamAlausaPurpleCampaign, a community engagement with proposed route of Iba/Ipaja in view of the numbers of cases being reported in 2years and also a day set aside for Safeguarding and Child Protection Day while ending the month long program with a Commendation Night.
