DSVA Law for Review

April 30, 2024

The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) is seeking a review of the law establishing the agency to improve justice for survivors.

DSVA Executive Secretary, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, stated this when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC as part of its oversight functions paid a working visit to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency last week.

The purpose of the visit was to familiarise members of the committee with the activities, address challenges of the office, and also promote the existing cordial relationship between the committee and the agency.

Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi said the intention was to bring up the law to include Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, spousal battery, forceful eviction from the home, economic abuse, decentralized service, the establishment of more designated police stations, and heightened awareness.

The DSVA executive secretary also gave a presentation relaying the agency’s efforts and commitment to ensuring justice to survivors, the workings towards achieving a clear goal of ensuring an end to SGBV, and the challenges encountered in the course of duty.

Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Hon Ladi Ajomale, stated that the familiarisation tour to the agency was to build a formidable working relationship and to ensure they thrive to make Lagos a safer and better state for all its residents.

Ajomale highlighted that the committee desired to be acquainted with the agency’s success rates, challenges, budget, and its relationship with the state arrowheads.

He praised the agency for a well-put-together structure and its workings and assured that they would look into the budget slash and running cost in the coming year.

Hon. Joseph Olaide Kehinde urged the agency to liaise with the public service office for operational vehicles as the agency had continued to contribute to the peace of the state.

He also said the agency should engage in more publicity to further disseminate the SGBV message.

At the closing of the meeting, the committee members were adorned with the agency’s SGBV awareness pins.