Thursday 15th October, 2015
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| Domestic Violence Must be eradicated |
Perpetrators
of Domestic and Sexual Violence will no longer find it easy to operate in Lagos
state. This is the resolve of the Government of Lagos State and the
participants of year 2015 Walk Against Domestic Violence which took place in
Lagos on Thursday 15th October, 2015.
The
awareness walk, organised by the Domestic
and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), is part of the week-long
activities lined up to commemorate this year’s Domestic Violence Month. DSVRT
is made up of top level representatives drawn from Lagos State Ministry of
Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Office of the Public Defender; the
Nigeria Police; Ministries of Health and Education; Office of Youth &
Social Development; the Media and Civil Society Organisations involved in the
fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence crimes. The Team, which is being
coordinated from the Office of the Attorney-General & Commissioner for
Justice, Lagos State, was founded in September, 2014.
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| Honourable Adedamola Richard Kasunmu(right) with Ikeja LGA Executive Secretary, Hon. Dally Adeokun during the Flag-Off ceremony at Ikeja |
The
year 2015 Walk Against Domestic Violence
was flagged off by Honourable Adedamola
Richard Kasunmu at Ikeja Bus Stop. Conducting the Flag-off ceremony this
morning, Hon. Kasunmu, representing Ikeja Constituency II at the Lagos State
House of Assembly, expressed deep concern about the rising cases of Domestic
and Sexual Violence in the state. Honourable Adedamola Richard Kasunmu later
joined the team at the Governor’s Office. Speaking with reporters during the
Flag-off ceremony, Hon.Kasunmu
stated that “the effects of domestic and sexual violence especially on girls,
women, youths, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups should be a
source of worry to all right-thinking persons in the society. That is why we
all need to play our parts in confronting this criminality with everything it
takes and one the areas we need to improve on is the aspect of awareness. How
do I mean? As far back as 2007, the Lagos
State House of Assembly has enacted a law known as “Protection Against Domestic Violence”. Section 18 (g) i-ix of
that Law listed 10 things as acts of
Domestic Violence. They are:
(i)
Physical abuse;
(ii)
Sexual abuse, exploitation including but not limited to rape, incest and sexual
assault;
(iii)
Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse;
(iv)
Hazardous attack including acid both with offensive or Poisonous substance
(v)
Intimidation among others things”
Now the law is there, but our people are not
taking advantage of it because of low level of awareness and because people
tend to see domestic violence as ‘family affair’ that does not need to be
exposed. There is need for all arms of government form a synergy and tackle
this problem ”.
Speaking
further, Hon Kasunmu said “ Today’s
event is about increasing our level of awareness on this issue and that is why
it is important and I think we must commend the organisers”
Shortly
after the flag-off, the hardworking Lawmaker took time off to join his
colleagues in the House of Assembly for the day’s Plenary sitting.
Also
at the event were, Executive Secretary,
Ikeja Local Government, Hon. Dally Adeokun; Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Bola Akingbade;
Director, Ministry of Justice, Mrs
Tola Akinsanya; Coordinator,
Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi; Mrs
Monisola Niyi-Adewale of Citizens Right Office; Members of the Nigeria
Teachers Union (NUT); Coordinator, Walk
Against Rape, Mrs Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye and other notable personalities
and organisations.
Forming
an impressive procession from the departure point under the fly over bridge at Ikeja Bus Stop, participants marched
through Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja
down to Allen Avenue Junction and then straight to the Governor’s office at
Alausa with placards and banners bearing various messages. It is instructive to
note that throughout the procession, there was a free-flow of traffic along the
ever-busy Awolowo Way. This was made possible by the orderliness of the
participants and the presence of LASTMA
officials who accompanied the team.
The
Walk terminated at the State House, Alausa Ikeja where the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,
Mrs Boladele Dapo-Thomas received the participants on behalf of the Governor
of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr
Akinwunmi Ambode
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| Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,
Mrs Boladele Dapo-Thomas addressing the gathering |
Introducing
the team to the Permanent Secretary and other officials present, DSVRT Coordinator, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said the walk was organised to create
more awareness on the need to curb Domestic Violence in the state. She thanked
the state Government for its support since inception of the organisation and
solicited for continued assistance.
In
her response, Mrs Dapo-Thomas
commended both organisers and participants for their determination in stamping
out domestic violence from the state. She expressed the State Government’s
resoluteness in reducing domestic and sexual violence to zero level in Lagos.
Other
dignitaries at the event include
Director of Protocol, Governor’s Office, Mr Tunde Onigbanjo; Director, Ministry
of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ms Adefunke Odutola and many
others.
Below
are some of the pictures taken at the event by Sola Folowosele
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| Participants lift their fists to give Domestic Violence a hard Punch |
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| Governor Ambode's representative, Mrs Boladele Dapo-Thomas addressing reporters |
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Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu of Lagos State House of Assembly &
Governor Ambode's representative, Mrs Boladele Dapo-Thomas (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation) |
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| Founder, Rubies Ink & initiator, Walk-Against-Rape,Mrs Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye(left) with another top official of NUT |
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| Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu of Lagos State House of Assembly (Ikeja II) & Chief Dally Adeokun(ES, Ikeja LGA) during the Flag-off ceremony at Ikeja Bus Stop |
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| Participants forms a colourful procession Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja |
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| Participants march past Buhari/Osinbajo Lagos Campaign office, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja |
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| Participants in the Walk Against Domestic Violence |
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| Money wont take away the pain!!! Dont Start it |
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| Another Strong Message. Speak Out; Domestic Violence is not a family affair |
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| On the way to Governor's Office |
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| Coordinator,
Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi |
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| LASTMA Official on duty |
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| The Walk Team in front of Lagos State House of Assembly enrouteGovernor's office |
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| The Walk Team in front of Lagos State House of Assembly enroute Governor's office |
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| The Team arrives the gate of Lagos House, Governor's office |
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| Director, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Tola Akinsanya leading the Walk to Governor's Office |
Mrs Dapo-Thomas, Hon. Kasunmu,Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi, Mrs Ijewere-Kalejaiye with others
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(L-R): Director, Public Relations,Ministry of Justice, Mrs Bola Akingbade;
Coordinator, DSVRT, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi; Director, WAPA, Ms Adefunke Odutola; Perm Sec, WAPA, Mrs B.A. Dapo-Thomas; Hon Kasunmu;Director, Min of Justuce, Mrs Tola Akinsanya & Director of Protocol, Lagos Governor's office, Mr Kunle Onigbanjo |
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| Perm Sec, WAPA, Mrs B.A. Dapo-Thomas addressing the participants at the Governor's office in company with other officials |
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| Perm Sec, WAPA, Mrs B.A. Dapo-Thomas(middle) addressing the participants at the Governor's office in company with other officials |
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Officials
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| Participants in a group picture with Lagos State Officials at Gov Ambode's office | | |
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| Some participants took time out to catch fun |
Are a victim of Domestic or Sexual Violence? Speak out, call The Directorate for Citizens' Rights,Lagos State on 080..
