NGO sensitise Badagry community on gender based violence
The Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC II) and International IDEA has sensitised Badagry community on gender based violence in local dialect
The Community Legal Clinic in Badagry Local Government Area, had 50 community leaders and residents in attendance with different sessions on social and gender based violence from legal experts.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director, Mrs Bose Ironsi said that the initiative was a critical step in addressing the persistent issues of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) within our communities.
Ironsi said with a focus on empowering communities and survivors, the clinic seeks to bridge the gap in legal services, ensuring access to justice for underprivileged and marginalized groups, particularly women and girls.
“SGBV remains a pervasive challenge in Lagos State, leaving survivors struggling to understand and navigate complex legal systems while often facing societal stigma.
“The Community Legal Clinic in aims to offer a platform for participants to access professional, confidential, and compassionate legal advice.
“Beyond providing legal advice, the clinic will serve as an educational platform, empowering participants with knowledge about their rights under key legal frameworks, including the Lagos State Protection against Domestic Violence Law, Criminal Law of Lagos State and The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law.
“The clinic offers comprehensive services to ensure survivors receive holistic support” she said.
Ironsi said that participants would accessed counselling services on human rights, SGBV laws, and practical safety planning.
She said through knowledge-sharing sessions, survivors and community members would gain invaluable insights into their legal rights and the resources available to them, fostering greater awareness and resilience within the community.
She said that the initiative would extends its reach beyond individual survivors by engaging the broader community, working closely with key stakeholders, including artisans, market traders, and religious leaders.
A participant, Mrs Julianna Shodenu, said that if government and stakeholders could be more serious about the legal clinic, cases of SGBV would reduced drastically.
Shodenu said that constant engagement with community leaders and residents was key and would go a long way.
Another participant, Ms Bosede Ogunpe said that SGBV cases happens and people concealed it for different reasons best known to them.
Ogunpe said the community needs more enlightenment on what to do and where to report.
She said SGBV do occurs based due to negligence on the part of the parents, peer pressure and slight opportunity from perpetrators.
