Week of Action against Domestic Violence in Lagos State: Day 5 – Community Outreach at Isale Eko Local Government Council, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island

A large crowd of women and men gathered this morning at the Local Government Council where they were sensitized on Domestic violence.

Interpreters were engaged throughout the sessions, as many of those in attendance did not understand English.

 

This community outreach was led by the Chairperson of LASGAT, Dr Keziah Awoshika and the State coordinator, Barr Titilope Akosa.

 

You can view the pictures using #AADV #LASGAT or by visiting the LASGAT facebook page.

Week of Action Against Domestic Violence in Lagos – Day 4. Outreach to Cairo Market, Mosafejo Market and Oshodi Garage

Gender activists led by Barr Titilope Akosa went on an outreach to Cairo and Mosafejo market and the Oshodi motor garage yesterday the 16^th of October 2014.

The three Iya ojas (women leaders) of the markets were a part of these outreaches and participated in the distribution of fliers and stickers and the dissemination of information on Domestic Violence.

 

You can view the pictures using these hashtage #AADV #LASGAT

Week of Action against Domestic Violence in Lagos State: Day 3 – Community Outreach at the Anthony Sport Stadium, Kosofe Local Government, Lagos.

It was another successful day as the LASGAT team sensitized the community members of Kosofe Local Government on domestic violence, prevention and early warning signs. Correct information about family support Police Stations, centres and organizations providing support and counselling were disseminated.

 

Some of those in attendance were the Iya Oja of Anthony Village – Chief Alhaja BB Balogun; a two time Counsellor of the Kosofe Local government who represented the Chairman; indigenous women and men from the Yoruba, Fulani, Hausa and Ibo ethnic groups and young persons.

Interpreters were engaged, as many of those in attendance did not understand English.

 

You can view the pictures using #AADV #LASGAT

Week of Action against Domestic Violence in Lagos State: Day 2 – Advocacy Visit to the Iyaloja General of Lagos State, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.

“We would not have successfully sensitized Lagosians about Domestic Violence if we have not engaged market Women.” Vweta Chadwick, Global Programme Director, ASHA Initiative.

 The Chairperson of the Lagos State Gender Advocacy Team (LASGAT) Dr Keziah Awoshika and the State Coordinator Barr Titilope Akosa led Gender Activists to the Office of the Iyaloja General (the leader of all market women in Lagos) today, to seek her support in sensitizing market women across the state on domestic and gender based violence.

Chief Tinubu-Ojo received the LASGAT team and pledged her commitment to provide any assistance and support required to get this very important message across.

The visit culminated in the presentation of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Directory, Campaign stickers and other IEC materials to the Iyaloja.

View the pictures using #AADV #LASGAT

Lagos State Gender Advocacy Team (LASGAT) Declares Oct 13 – 17 Week of Action against Gender Based Violence

Lagos State no doubt has proved through its people centred laws and projects, that it has the wellbeing of the most vulnerable people among us, namely: women, girls, persons with disabilities at heart. Many of whom suffer gender based violence in the hands of their caregivers. However, there is room for more.

In a press statement issued by the Lagos State Coordinator of LASGAT, Barr. Titilope Akosa, at a media briefing to officially kick start the week, she commended the state government for enacting the Domestic Violence Law in 2007. Continuing, she stated that this law does not fully criminalize domestic violence in absolute terms.

She encouraged all to not loose sight of the significance of this week as it coincides with the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child with the theme “Ending the Circle of Violence against the Girl Child.

Barr Akosa called on the state to protect the rights of citizens to life and bodily integrity and to ensure that their rights are not violated by stepping up action to strengthen the enforcement of domestic violence law with the following recommendations:

• Adopting and passing into law the sexual offences bill which is currently before the National Assembly;
• Gathering data to enable the quantification of the economic and non-economic cost of domestic violence in the state to enable budgetary allocation needed to fight the scourge;
• Developing policy guidelines that will ensure zero tolerance for trivializing the offences and letting perpetrators go free;
• Giving legal backing to the week of action against domestic violence as an annual event to be celebrated throughout Lagos.

In her closing remarks, she called on the Nigerian government to ensure the safe return of the Chibok Girls as soon as possible.

 

This program is organized by the Lagos State Gender Advocacy Team (LASGAT) with support from DFID/SAVI, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Office of the Attorney General of Lagos State, Office of the Public Defender, SOS Children Village, Save the Children, Centre for 21^st Century Issues, ASHA Initiative and many others.

You can follow this event online via Facebook, and by following the #AADV, #LASGAT.