The symposium was organised to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and 16 days of activism against gender violence.
The Lagos HAG, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution Mrs. Idowu Alakija said that the State Government, under the aegis of the DSVRT has embarked on various innovative projects, enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns all geared at increasing victim safety and offender responsibility, by providing a cross jurisdictional response in the manner in which Sexual and Gender Based Violence matters are handled in the State.
'We are also in the process of establishing more Shelter and Transit homes for victims and would be survivors of Domestic Violence so as to ensure that all the support services are available for survivors who have the courage to stand up, speak out and says Enough is Enough, I need help', Kazeem disclosed.
The Lagos HAG highlighted that the symposium seeks to inspire and encourage all stakeholders to increase their efforts in bringing succour to victims and ultimately eradicate this menace in our society.
'Consequently, DSVRT in Partnership with Access Bank is joining millions around the world to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and participate in the 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women and children', he added.
Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, in his presentation, described cultural and religious institutions, especially churches and mosques, as the greatest promoters of sexual and domestic violence.
Falana vowed to challenge in court cultural practices such as the Oro Festival tradition of limiting women's mobility through acts of violence in Ikorodu, Lagos and some other parts of the south west.
Falana accused some religious leaders of trivialising sexual and domestic offences, adding that when such leaders are implicated in such acts, their followers gang up against the victims for daring to make a complaint.
He said: "If you report a case of rape, sometimes the community will gang up against you and you are stigmatised for ensuring that the law protects the victim.
"If we are going to talk about the law against domestic violence, we must look at our Bible and Quran, religious institutions: they are the greatest promoters of domestic violence.
Falana also lamented that female police recruits were still not allowed to marry for the first three years without approval from their Police Commissioner, despite a court declaration banning the practice.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) Dr. Herbert Wigwe, in his opening remarks, said victims of such violence were usually reluctant to come forward because of fear.
"This forum is long overdue, out duty is to mobilise public participation towards addressing this menace. Our little girls should be trained to dream big. As women, daughters and sisters, they deserve nothing less of us."
Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni hailed such forums for helping the police in punishing perpetrators of such violence.
He added: "I tell the families of any perpetrator who asks me to drop such cases to swear an affidavit to that effect in court and before they get back, I would have charged the case to court. No woman is inferior to a man.
"It is the educated ones that are always the culprits and that is why there is always conspiracy of silence even within the family. That is why we need to think beyond loyalty to such culprits."
Owoseni said the recently reported case of a seven-year-old boy being lynched did not happen anywhere in Lagos.
"Our judicial system is also at fault and all fingers should not always be pointed to the police force. We always carry the burden of whatever happens in the community so we need your understanding," he added.
Access Bank's chairperson Mrs Mosun Belo-Olusoga added: "The silence of victims has been reinforced by our culture. Everyone is affected because our inaction affects the abuser. We should take action whenever we notice such wrong."
Other participants included first lady of Lagos State Bolanle Ambode represented by Elizabeth Adejare; member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Gbolahan Yishau, the State's Solicitor-General Funlola Odunlami, members of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and primary and tertiary school students.
BOLA AKINGBADE
DPA – JUSTICE
02/12/16
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