Domestic violence: Lagos set to launch short code to report cases

Between January and September 2017, a total of 852 cases of
domestic violence and related cases were recorded in Lagos State,
the State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has
disclosed.

Speaking on Tuesday at a media parley held at the Bagauda Kaltho
Press Centre, Alausa to commemorate the Domestic and Sexual
Violence Awareness Month, the State’s Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem said out of the total
number, there were 564 domestic violence cases, 60 defilement
cases, 30 rape cases, 11 attempted rape, 123 child neglect and
abuse cases, and 84 other cases.

Kazeem, who is also the Chairman of DSVRT, disclosed that the
trend from the data showed an increase in men coming forward to
report cases of domestic violence, just as he said that this year
alone, a total number of 55 men came forward to report in contrast
to 14 men that reported last year.

He said the data revealed that most of sexual assault cases were
perpetrated in the afternoon during weekdays, while corroborating
that 95 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence are known to
the victims, which according to him, necessitated the need to
embark on sensitization campaigns for parents on parenting skills
and child abuse prevention tips as well as trainings for children
on child’s rights, child abuse, safety and how to preserve
evidence.

While some of the cases have been charged to court, Kazeem said
the State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social
Development and other stakeholders, provided shelter for the
survivors.

Aside that, the Commissioner said all the survivors of sexual
assault received medical attention from comprehensive Primary
Health Care Centres and referral centres, among other efforts to
properly rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the society.

Kazeem, however, noted that under the present administration,
the interventions of DSVRT were gradually breaking the silence
around issues of sexual and gender based violence in the State.

“There is a growing confidence urging people to speak out more,
there is an astronomical increase in reporting of cases in the
media. Lagos has indeed revolutionize the way sexual and gender
based violence is being tackled in Nigeria with all the pioneering
initiatives of Governor Ambode,” Kazeem said.

Besides, the Attorney General revealed that the State Government
has concluded plans to launch a short service code that would
afford residents the opportunity of reporting cases of domestic
violence, sexual abuse, child abuse and other related offences with
ease.

He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that victims of all
forms of abuse reach out to the appropriate agencies and receive
timely information on what to do and where to get assistance.

“This would be achieved by members of the public using keywords,
that is, ‘Child Abuse to 6820’ or *6820# and an interactive menu
browser to get the relevant information from such users such as
name, location, specific case or complaint which would in turn
ensure that the whole response team is automatically activated.

“Anybody that needs to report a case of child abuse, rape or
domestic violence or requires a child or a woman to be rescued can
make use of the platform and should receive timely and accurate
information”, Adeniji said.

Between January and September 2017, a total of 852 cases of
domestic violence and related cases were recorded in Lagos State,
the State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has
disclosed.

Speaking on Tuesday at a media parley held at the Bagauda Kaltho
Press Centre, Alausa to commemorate the Domestic and Sexual
Violence Awareness Month, the State’s Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem said out of the total
number, there were 564 domestic violence cases, 60 defilement
cases, 30 rape cases, 11 attempted rape, 123 child neglect and
abuse cases, and 84 other cases.

Kazeem, who is also the Chairman of DSVRT, disclosed that the
trend from the data showed an increase in men coming forward to
report cases of domestic violence, just as he said that this year
alone, a total number of 55 men came forward to report in contrast
to 14 men that reported last year.

He said the data revealed that most of sexual assault cases were
perpetrated in the afternoon during weekdays, while corroborating
that 95 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence are known to
the victims, which according to him, necessitated the need to
embark on sensitization campaigns for parents on parenting skills
and child abuse prevention tips as well as trainings for children
on child’s rights, child abuse, safety and how to preserve
evidence.

While some of the cases have been charged to court, Kazeem said
the State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social
Development and other stakeholders, provided shelter for the
survivors.

Aside that, the Commissioner said all the survivors of sexual
assault received medical attention from comprehensive Primary
Health Care Centres and referral centres, among other efforts to
properly rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the society.

Kazeem, however, noted that under the present administration,
the interventions of DSVRT were gradually breaking the silence
around issues of sexual and gender based violence in the State.

“There is a growing confidence urging people to speak out more,
there is an astronomical increase in reporting of cases in the
media. Lagos has indeed revolutionize the way sexual and gender
based violence is being tackled in Nigeria with all the pioneering
initiatives of Governor Ambode,” Kazeem said.

Besides, the Attorney General revealed that the State Government
has concluded plans to launch a short service code that would
afford residents the opportunity of reporting cases of domestic
violence, sexual abuse, child abuse and other related offences with
ease.

He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that victims of all
forms of abuse reach out to the appropriate agencies and receive
timely information on what to do and where to get assistance.

“This would be achieved by members of the public using keywords,
that is, ‘Child Abuse to 6820’ or *6820# and an interactive menu
browser to get the relevant information from such users such as
name, location, specific case or complaint which would in turn
ensure that the whole response team is automatically activated.

“Anybody that needs to report a case of child abuse, rape or
domestic violence or requires a child or a woman to be rescued can
make use of the platform and should receive timely and accurate
information”, Adeniji said.