British Council trains Lagos judges, magistrates on domestic violence

In an effort to reduce domestic violence in Lagos State, the
British Council has trained about 100 magistrates and judges on
Protection Against Domestic Violence Law.

The British Council organised the training through its Rule of
Law and Anti-corruption programme, funded by the European
Union.

The Lead Consultant for the training, Prof. Ayo Atsuwa, Dean,
Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, said the training focused on
the safety of vulnerable persons such as domestic servants, spouses
and physically challenged persons.

She said that the law had been there but had little or no
effects on victims, as its provisions had yet to be explored for
the safety of victims.

Atsuwa said that the involvement of many non-governmental
organisations, human rights groups and civil societies in creating
awareness against domestic violence showed that the menace was in
the increase.

The don urged judges and magistrates to raise awareness on the
law and ensure safety.

She said that many people were facing challenges at home in the
hands of those they would not want to expose, adding that the law
allowed another person to bring applications before the court on
behalf of such victims.

Atsuwa said that counsellors, health service providers, police,
social workers, organisations or teachers could bring such
applications in court provided they had the consent of the
complainant.

She said that an application for the protection of a minor,
mentally challenged and unconscious, who might be unable to
consent, would not need their consent.

The Coordinator of RoLAC in Lagos State, Mrs Ajibola Ajimakiwa,
said that the two-day training was to build the capacity of justice
stakeholders in the state to apply the provisions of the law.

Ajimakiwa said that the training was to build capacity toward
increased application and utilisation of the provisions of the law,
to resolve criminal cases and apply the newly signed practice
direction.

She said that in spite of laudable achievements in implementing
some provisions of the law, more would still need to be done.

“The reasons are largely due to public ignorance of the
existence of the law and its protective nature and limited
knowledge on the provisions of the law.

“Lagos State Judiciary would be able to effectively understand
the law itself and the guiding principles when presiding over cases
of domestic violence in court, thereby advancing the implementation
of the law,” she said. (NAN)