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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State government has said that in the last one year, 8,692 cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) were reported in the state, just as the state through the Ministry of Justice is taking necessary steps to restore hope and confidence in the victims to get rid of the trauma.
Briefing the press on Friday, on the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, which comes up in September, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), said that the effects of sexual and gender based violence cannot be overemphasised as 90 per cent of the survivors disclosed that they have experienced low self-esteem, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), extreme fear and anxiety; and about five per cent suffered from depression and had to seek medical help.
The Attorney General said the theme of the awareness is “SGBV?…It Concerns Us All”, was chosen because SGBV is not a respecter of age.
Pedro who was represented by the Permanent Secretary and the Solicitor General of his ministry, Mr. Ahmid Oyenuga, stressed that every stakeholder would be involved in the awareness programme, and that for the first time, the private sector would be involved.
He said: “We are also set to launch the guidelines on sexual harassment prevention in the workplace, thereby fostering safer and more respectful work environments.
“Children would not be left out, as the safeguarding and child protection week would witness the gathering of over 1,200 students.” Shedding more light on the activities of the agency involved in sexual abuse, he noted that between August 2024 and July 2025, the DSVA received a total of 8,692 cases through both physical walk-ins and the Virtual Referral and Response Service (VRRS) and on the average the agency attends to over 400 clients monthly. He said 3,685 cases of domestic violence were reported, making it the most prevalent category, adding that, “243 cases of defilement and 244 cases of child abuse/physical assault were handled, while 99 cases of rape, 48 cases of sexual harassment, and 25 cases of sexual assault by penetration were recorded.”
