The Lagos State Government, through its dedicated Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), has taken a significant step towards empowering Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) by organizing a crucial two-day advocacy training focused on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Disability Rights.
This impactful workshop, a collaborative effort between the DSVA, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), and International IDEA, is strategically designed to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge of the legal provisions safeguarding them against domestic and sexual violence, while also elucidating their fundamental disability rights and available legal protections.
Speaking at the training held at Amber Residence, Ikeja, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, highlighted the pivotal aim of the initiative.
“This training is specifically designed to build the capacity of leaders within various disability clusters, including individuals living with albinism, hearing and visual impairments, and dwarfism, among others,” she stated.
Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi emphasised the urgent need to empower these community leaders with vital information regarding sexual and gender-based violence. This knowledge will enable them to effectively educate, raise awareness, and advocate for their rights within their respective communities.
“It is crucial that individuals are aware of the laws governing these critical issues. We are also providing essential information on referral pathways – what to do, which numbers to call, and where to seek help, including accessing free medical care, should incidents occur within their communities or clusters. Our goal is to strengthen trust and encourage the reporting and referral of cases,” she explained.
Furthermore, Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi underscored the importance of informing PWDs about the existing support services available in Lagos State. “We recognize that persons with disabilities are also vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, and it is imperative to deliver this message in a manner that is accessible, understandable, and empowers them to take action.”
She noted the agency’s consistent engagement with key stakeholders, particularly PWDs, in recent years, leading to an increased understanding of their rights and effective advocacy strategies, which has yielded positive results.
“We anticipate a continued rise in reporting from various clusters. Notably, in 2023, we provided services to 11 persons with disabilities, and this number doubled to 25 last year. With this enhanced awareness, we expect to see a further increase in the formal reporting of sexual and gender-based violence cases.”
Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi reiterated the agency’s overarching mandate: “To saturate Lagos with a zero-tolerance message against these crimes, affirming that these are offenses against the state and empowering survivors to know that help is available and that these experiences do not define the end of their lives.”
The General Manager of LASODA, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, lauded the training as a “welcome idea” that will significantly broaden the participants’ knowledge and enhance their access to justice. She reaffirmed LASODA’s unwavering commitment to combating SGBV and encouraged the reporting of all incidents.
Expressing gratitude to the organizers, Mrs. Oyetunde-Lawal stressed the rarity of such focused conversations and advocated more frequent engagements to educate, inform, and empower PWDs in Lagos State and beyond.
Mrs. Abimbola Ushie, representing the State Resources and Admin for Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, implemented by IDEA, emphasised the fundamental importance of PWDs understanding their rights as Nigerian citizens and the specific protections offered by the Lagos Disability Law.
“While various advocates champion the rights of people with disabilities, no one can articulate their needs and experiences better than the individuals themselves. They are the ones who truly understand where the challenges lie,” Mrs. Ushie stated.
Participants overwhelmingly commended the Lagos State Government and its partners for organising such inclusive training sessions, which are crucial in raising awareness of disability laws, encouraging the reporting of violations, and facilitating access to available support services for people with disabilities in the state.
