Lagos State through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), has urged parents and guardians to help curb the high rate of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases witnessed during Yuletide.
The Executive Secretary of DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, in a statement said that parents and guardians should be extra vigilant in the monitoring and protection of children and wards during the festive period.
Vivour-Adeniyi said that the historical trend from available data pointed to children being at a higher risk of being sexually abused during the festive season.
She urged parents and caregivers to be more vigilant and watchful over the children in their care during the period.
According to her, it is important for all to limit any opportunity for pedophiles to perpetrate the heinous act.
”Parents and caregivers are encouraged to use this period to empower their children on body safety techniques, including how to set boundaries; good touch; bad touch, and age appropriate teaching,” she said.
The Executive Secretary also encouraged parents to take advantage of resources curated on safeguarding and child protection, which were available on the DSVA website – www.lagosdsva.org
She said that over the years, the agency had recorded an increase in formal and informal reporting of domestic violence during the Yuletide period.
Vivour-Adeniyi, therefore, said that the state government had zero tolerance for all forms of gender-based violence, as violence should never be the response to resolving conflict, especially during the festive period.
She restated the agency’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted service delivery during the season.
The Executive Secretary urged anybody experiencing either domestic or sexual violence to take advantage of the toll-free line- 08000-333-333, which remained accessible 24/7, and throughout the 365 days of the year. NAN
