Gender-based violence: Lagos recruits anti-rape ambassadors


Lagos State government has enlisted over 400 market leaders to serve as ambassadors against rape and other forms of domestic violence.

Addressing the market leaders, the Coordinator of Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, explained that the move was aimed at reducing cases of domestic violence and  other acts of    gender-based violence in the state.

The coordinator    described the market leaders  as capable of assisting government in its fight against rape and other gender-based crimes.
According to her, “you are mandated to report if you see  or hear anything especially as incidents of gender-based violence have occurred    in recent times at the market place.”


She  explained that the engagement  of market leaders was premised on the mandate given by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to embark on mobilization  of traders, as stakeholders who should champion the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

Vivour-Adeniyi, further urged the ambassadors to speak out and not  to bow to pressures from family members, opinion leaders and even certain law enforcement agencies to settle the matters out of court.

She listed the Child’s Rights Law, 2007, Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, as some of the extant legislations that deal with gender-based violence.

She assured that her organization in collaboration with some other groups would provide free legal representation to handle reported cases of gender-based violence.

Speaking on behalf of the market leaders, the Iya Loja General, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, assured the DSVRT of their support arguing that they are committed to tackling the menace of gender-based violence in society.

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