By The Nation,Zainab Olufemi
Copyright thenationonlineng
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has hosted civil society organisations (CSOs) with a call for stronger partnerships in addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The programme, held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, with the theme, “Enhancing the Role of Government and Civil Society Organisations in Survivor-Centred SGBV,” was part of activities marking the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the theme was inspired by the need to entrench a survivor-centred approach in service delivery.
She said: “This year’s theme is born out of the need to ensure that as government and as civil society organisations, we continue to ensure a survival-centred approach is adopted when we are providing services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Our strategic partnership with civil society organisations cannot be over-emphasised because no one ministry, department or agency can provide all the services that survivors require. The NGOs are in the communities; sometimes they even serve as first responders. It is important for us to strengthen our partnership, embark on learning exercises and always keep abreast of best practices.”
Vivour-Adeniyi said that beyond policies, government and lawmakers must create an enabling environment for survivors to break the culture of silence.
“This is one of the reasons why survivors do not speak up, because of stigma and the culture of silence. As government and civil society organisations, we all have a role to play in ensuring that survivors have enough courage, faith in the system, and are informed about what to do post-trauma,” she said.
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Addressing survivors directly, she reassured them that they were not alone.
“We want survivors to know that, number one, it’s not your fault, you are not to blame. If you have experienced any form of sexual and gender-based violence, the Lagos State government believes you, you are not alone. We encourage you to speak up so that you can access medical, legal, psychosocial, counselling, empowerment and, more importantly, access to justice,” she said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN), Atinuke Odukoya, emphasised the critical role of civil society in amplifying survivors’ voices and connecting them to support services.
“CSOs are like catalysts that ensure everything goes on well for the survivor. They support government institutions and provide the information that is required, helping people know the referral pathways, where to go, who to speak with, and how to seek help. Many survivors don’t even know what to do when abuse occurs, so CSOs bridge that gap and sometimes even handhold the survivors through the process,” she said.
According to her, CSOs not only provide guidance but also direct services to survivors, including counselling, advocacy, and referrals to justice and healthcare systems.
On community involvement, Odukoya stressed the need for zero tolerance for abuse.
“Communities need to acknowledge that sexual and gender-based violence is not acceptable. They must have conversations to identify what constitutes abuse and make it clear that perpetrators will face consequences. Too often, communities plead on behalf of perpetrators or cajole survivors to stay silent. But once people know that there are consequences, it goes a long way in prevention,” she said.
The State Project Coordinator for the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA, Ajibola Ijimakinwa, said the event was aimed at raising awareness and reinforcing referral pathways for survivors.
“Today’s event is one of the activities in the celebration of Domestic Violence Month. The DSVA is creating awareness about SGBV and ensuring that more people know they have a place to refer such cases to, and people that can support them through their trauma. The European Union is supporting DSVA to bring together civil society organisations that have been instrumental in the fight against SGBV in Lagos State,” she said.
Ijimakinwa noted that donor agencies had set up sexual assault referral centres, including facilities in Alimosho, Mirabel Centre and Warif, to expand the network of services available to survivors.
“When people know where to report and where to go, it’s a way of telling them that there is help. There is someone out there that believes in you and can support you through the process. One of the key things we’ve done is to ensure that people know where to go when they face such traumatic incidences,” she explained.
On prevention, she stressed that no one plans to be violated.
“It has nothing to do with what a survivor did wrong. Nobody prays to be violated. What matters the most is that if, for any reason, you get to a point where you are violated, you know where to go to get the needed help,” she said.