LBS STRENGTHENS DATA-DRIVEN RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC, SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN LAGOS
The Lagos Bureau of Statistics (LBS) has intensified efforts to strengthen evidence-based responses to domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State through a stakeholders’ engagement on the Survey on Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment/Rape, Incidence Rate, Response Time and Government Policy.
The engagement, organised by LBS in conjunction with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), was aimed at generating reliable data on residents’ experiences of domestic and sexual violence, their awareness of available support services and reporting mechanisms, as well as the effectiveness of government interventions.
Speaking at the engagement held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB), Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, said the survey was critical to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and ensuring that government interventions in social protection and gender-based violence remained responsive to the lived experiences of residents.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Lagos Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Bashiru Oseni-Ope, noted that the survey would provide valuable insights into residents’ awareness of available support services, confidence in reporting mechanisms and experiences with existing interventions.
She stressed that feedback from citizens remained essential to assessing the effectiveness of government policies and programmes and ensuring that public resources were directed towards areas of greatest need.
According to her, the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, had continued to strengthen its social protection architecture and response to domestic and sexual violence through initiatives including the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law 2007, public awareness campaigns, the Virtual Referral and Response Service, and collaboration with civil society organisations, community leaders and development partners.
Ojo emphasised the importance of continually assessing these interventions from the perspective of residents, particularly in determining whether people were sufficiently aware of available services, whether survivors were receiving the necessary support, and whether reporting and response mechanisms were effective.
She explained that the survey would help identify gaps between government policies and public expectations, particularly in the areas of service awareness, confidence in reporting channels, prevailing social attitudes towards violence, and the reach and impact of government interventions at the grassroots.
The Permanent Secretary assured that the findings of the survey would be put to practical use, noting that the insights generated would inform the State’s planning and budgetary frameworks and guide future resource allocation towards the needs and aspirations of residents, particularly in the areas of social protection and gender equality.
She further called for sustained collaboration among government institutions, communities, civil society organisations and development partners, stressing that addressing domestic and sexual violence required a coordinated and collective response.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, described the survey as crucial to keeping stakeholders abreast of emerging trends in domestic and sexual violence and strengthening the analysis of data required to design and improve interventions.
She explained that the collaboration between LBS, under the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, and DSVA was aimed at generating reliable data on the prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), patterns of occurrence and the channels through which survivors report cases.
Vivour-Adeniyi noted that domestic and sexual violence was driven by a combination of factors, including patriarchy, gender inequality, socio-religious influences and harmful social norms, stressing that the multifaceted nature of the challenge required a coordinated response from all stakeholders.
According to her, government, civil society organisations, religious institutions and community leaders all have critical roles to play in addressing the menace, adding that the government must ensure the existence and enforcement of relevant laws, formulate appropriate policies, provide support structures for survivors and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
She expressed optimism that the survey would generate data capable of revealing emerging trends and identifying areas of high prevalence across the Local Government Areas, while providing evidence-based recommendations for preventing and mitigating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the State.
The Executive Secretary urged survivors of domestic and sexual violence to speak up and seek help, assuring them that their experiences were valid and that they should not blame themselves for the violence they suffered.
She explained that reporting cases would enable survivors to access critical services, including medical care, legal support and access to justice, and encouraged members of the public, particularly survivors, to reach out to DSVA through its toll-free line, 0800 033 3333, for necessary support and assistance. The Agency’s official platform also provides channels for reporting and accessing support services.
Highlighting the objectives of the survey, the Director, Lagos Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Bashiru Oseni-Ope, said the exercise was designed to generate reliable data on the incidence of domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape in Lagos State, while assessing residents’ awareness of available support services and reporting mechanisms.
He noted that the findings would support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen coordination among relevant stakeholders and assist the government in improving interventions designed to protect vulnerable residents and provide timely support to survivors.
Bashiru stressed that reliable and credible data remained essential to understanding the scale and patterns of domestic and sexual violence, identifying gaps in existing responses and developing effective and sustainable solutions to the challenge.
The engagement was attended by representatives of relevant government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and community stakeholders.
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