The Lagos State Domestic and
Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in its quest to end all forms of
gender-based violence in the state, has enlisted over 400 market leaders otherwise
referred as Iya lojas and Baba lojas as ambassadors against domestic violence.
Mrs. Lola Vivour-Adeniyi,
coordinator of DSVRT said in Lagos, on Saturday that the market leaders were
educated on the existence of the various laws including the Child’s Rights Law,
2007, Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007 and the Criminal Law of
Lagos State, 2011.
She stated that they were informed
of the support services available to them such as shelter homes and access to
free legal representation, should they come in contact with victims of
violence.
According to Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi
the meeting also emphasized the need to speak out and not cower to pressures
from family members, opinion leaders and even certain law enforcement agencies
to settle the matter out of court.
She said the latest
engagement with the market leaders was premised on the mandate given by the
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to embark on grassroots
engagement and traders being key stakeholders in this regard should champion
the fight against sexual and gender-based violence crimes.
“Market men
and women were also urged to act as mandated reporters of acts of gender-based
and domestic violence. This is especially as incidents of gender violence have
in most recent times occurred at the market place.”
The team distributed posters,
fliers and stickers among the market leaders so as to ensure optimal publicity.
The initiative was welcomed by the Iya Loja General, Chief Mrs. Folashade
Tinubu-Ojo, who assured the DSVRT team that the markets association would report
cases of violence and also act as good ambassadors.
source: PM NEWS
