The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), has commenced engagement of Primary & Secondary School Students via its “Safeguarding the Rights of a Child”, STRAC initiative in its effort to curtail domestic and sexual abuse in the State on Friday, 17th of June, 2022 at the Education District 1, Agege.
Speaking at the workshop, Executive Secretary, DSVA, Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi stressed that the STRAC initiative is critical in view of the fact that children have a role to play in their own protection.
She stated that STRAC is an interactive workshop to engage children in age appropriate language on their rights, responsibilities, body safety, child abuse, how to avoid being a victim of sexual abuse, self-defence tips, and how to preserve evidence if physically or sexually abused and ultimately, speaking out and reporting abuse.
Vivour-Adeniyi noted that this prevention workshop is led by trained peer educators, who have experience in gender relations, socialization, dating violence and sexual violence prevention, which will go a long way in curbing incidents of Child Abuse in the State.
Vivour-Adeniyi said the goal is to empower millions of children in order to ensure that they are able to prevent the occurrence of domestic and sexual abuse in Lagos State.
Asides from verbally engaging students on their rights and responsibilities, the Executive Secretary added that there are provisions of STRAC textbooks prepared by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency to strengthen the reading culture of children, empower them and serve as a preventive tool against all forms of abuse.
She expressed satisfaction on the success of the programme as students expressed delight that the programme has empowered them to speak up in any case or form of abuse.
She noted that another workshop would be held for about 3500 students from at least 31 primary and secondary schools to enlighten them on Safeguarding the Rights of a child.
The workshop had in attendance about 750 Secondary School Students drawn from Mulero Junior Grammar School, State High School Ajewole, Eko Senior College, Lagos Baptist Senior Secondary School and Lagos Baptist Senior College, Abibat Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School, Iloro Junior Grammar School, Agege Junior College, Iloro, Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School, Sango Senior Secondary School, Sango Junior Secondary School, District Junior College, Yewa Junior High School and Unity Junior High School.
