Lagos DSVA Celebrates 10 Years of Impact with Landmark Symposium

Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has reaffirmed its dedication to combating sexual violence, particularly through enhanced prevention efforts across the state.

This pledge was made as the agency marked a decade of unwavering commitment to addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Lagos with a landmark symposium.

The symposium, organized in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) program, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, served as a platform to assess the effectiveness of Lagos State’s initiatives in tackling SGBV over the past ten years.

During the event, themed “Are We Doing Enough? A Consideration of Lagos State’s Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Last Decade,” the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, emphasized the importance of the gathering.

She highlighted the agency’s commitment to reflecting on its achievements while addressing ongoing challenges with proactive strategies for the future.

Vivour-Adeniyi underscored the hidden nature of domestic and sexual violence, describing these acts as crimes that violate fundamental human rights.

She stressed the need to dismantle the culture of silence surrounding these issues and to create an environment where survivors feel safe and supported.

Over the past decade, she noted, the Lagos State government has shown a steadfast commitment to combating all forms of sexual and gender-based violence through the enactment of relevant laws, policy formulation, and the establishment of institutions—efforts that will continue to be strengthened.

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She further explained that the symposium aimed to develop actionable strategies that would enhance the state’s ability to prevent and respond to SGBV in the years ahead.

In her keynote address, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, commended the agency’s evolution and its consistent delivery on the mandate to protect vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

She recognized the initiatives undertaken by DSVA to educate residents about the dangers of sexual violence and acknowledged the significant contributions of women in advocating for the right to protection.

Atsenuwa emphasized the importance of sustaining these efforts by expanding the agency’s capacity through collaboration between the government and the public.

Panelists at the symposium praised the Lagos State government’s progress in reducing domestic violence cases over the past decade.

They called for increased funding and improved logistics to support stakeholders in conducting thorough investigations.

The panelists also advocated for the localization of DSVA’s activities within communities, greater public awareness, and the establishment of a community accountability model where all levels of society are responsible for addressing domestic and sexual violence.

They stressed the need for an efficient system to support survivors of SGBV in Lagos State.

The discussion also touched on the steps necessary to eliminate all forms of abuse and domestic violence in the state.

Notable attendees at the event included the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, represented by Hon. Justice H.O. Oshodi; AIG Adegoke Fayoade of Police Zone 2; Mrs. Ajibola Ijimakinwa of RoLAC/IIdea; and Mrs. Kemi DaSilva Ibru, founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation, among others.

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