The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has organised a two-day training programme for Focal Persons from Kosofe LGA, Agboyi Ketu LCDA and Ikosi-Isheri LCDA towards engaging them as first responders of abuse in the LGA/LCDAs.
While speaking at the training held at Kosofe Local Government Secretariat, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said part of the Agency’s statutory mandate was to educate, sensitize and ensure that the government stance is engrained through its various training programmes.
Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, who was represented at the event by the Head of Community Engagement in DSVA, Mr. Damilare Adewusi, spoke on the Gender perspective and the relevant laws backing sexual and gender-based violence in Lagos State.
One of the Facilitators, Ms. Salami Kafayat Ebose of the Community Engagement Department, DSVA, lectured the participants in the first session on the overview of sexual and gender-based violence, focusing on the meaning of abuse and the various forms of abuse.
She also discussed the relevance of consent, its withdrawal, sexual assault, types of child abuse and the psychological effect of domestic violence on a child.
Mr. Tobi Ikudayisi, another facilitator, spoke on interviewing survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, describing a survivor’s trauma and expectations, just as he stressed the importance of providing the necessary psycho-social support for the victim.
He emphasized that the data/evidence collection phase will most importantly determine the success or failure of the case,
While explaining the relevance of empathy during the phase, he pointed out the need to communicate in a language that is best suitable to the survivor and encouraged participants to take the message of zero tolerance of all forms of abuse to their community.
Ikudayisi also encouraged the community members to always report cases of abuse to the Agency via its toll-free line: 08000333333 as they have now become mandated reporters.
