In a resounding call to action, Lagos State government and critical stakeholders converged on Lagos to reaffirm their commitment to eradicating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The programme, Child Protection Week, in commemoration of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Month, ended on Monday with the Governor’s Commendation and Award Night, held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.

The event, hosted by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Agency (DSVA), in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, started on September 17 with a sensitisation event themed “ SGBV? Not On My Watch!” at the Eko Boys High School, Mushin, and climaxed with the Award Night to recognise schools, individuals and organisations at the forefront of combating the scourge.

In attendance were prominent figures, including the First Lady of Lagos State, State Commissioners, the Commissioner of Police, Permanent Secretaries, representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, civil society organizations, donor agencies and stakeholders.

The First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in her keynote speech, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety and well-being of the state’s most vulnerable. She commended the tireless efforts of individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to the prevention and response to SGBV over the past years. She also reiterated the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to strengthening policies and legal frameworks designed to protect survivors and prosecute offenders.

She said the award recognition was to encourage the recipients to do more, adding that over 400 women were in the team working together with her on this initiative.

She said: “Encouraging more women to speak out and speak up. Sexual and gender-based violence is not just about the women, it’s also about the men too. So we need to encourage them to report. Work towards prevention, reproducing new strategies, even prevent some of these things from happening.”

The highlight of the evening was the recognition of outstanding citizens of Lagos State who have made significant contributions to the fight against SGBV. These individuals, through advocacy, legal reforms, community engagement, and service delivery, have demonstrated a profound commitment to creating a safer environment for women, children, and other vulnerable groups in the state.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, expressed gratitude to all partners, including the RoLAC Programme, for their unwavering support throughout the year. She also highlighted the success of the various initiatives carried out in September, including the Advocacy Walk, Child Protection and Safeguarding Week, and the symposium which assessed the impact of the state’s SGBV response over the past decade.

“We are gradually breaking the culture of silence, and calling on people to speak up and speak out. So, please pay attention to the people that are speaking up,” she said.

RoLAC Head of Programmes, Danladi Plang acknowledged the vital role played by Lagos State government in combating SGBV and rehabilitating victims with enactment of relevant laws. He said more would be done in identified areas.

“Some achievements have been made and what we need to do is build on those achievements, identify why cases are slow and deal with them; identify why convictions are low and deal with them,” he said.

The Lagos State Project Coordinator for RoLAC, Mrs. Ajibola Ijimakinwa, said the organisation has reaffirmed its commitment to making justice accessible to the most vulnerable populations, including children, women, persons with disabilities, and victims of SGBV.

She said: “Through its partnership with the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), RoLAC strives to enhance child protection measures and safeguard children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Child protection is everybody’s responsibility and its important that we encourage the children, and with the support partners like DSVA, we fight against the menace in our society.”

The RoLAC Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), has been a crucial partner in Lagos State’s ongoing efforts to tackle SGBV. The programme operates across seven states and at the federal level, focusing on improving access to justice for women, children, juveniles, persons with disabilities, and victims of SGBV.