Report gender-based violence, LASG urges varsity students

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has urged students of the Pan-Atlantic University to report and speak out against cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

The agency said everyone was obligated to become a mandated reporter of SGBV cases.

The call was made during the agency�s �Campus Activation on Sexual Gender-Based Domestic Violence� advocacy to the Pan-Atlantic University campus on Wednesday.

A late Wednesday statement by the agency quoted the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, as saying that �The theme of the campaign: �Issues surrounding SGBV on Campuses; Our Collective Responsibilities� was apt, as it highlights the state government concerted efforts on the initiative towards eradicating all forms of SGBV in Lagos State.�

Represented by the Team Head, Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit, Vivour-Adeniyi emphasised the agency�s commitment to preventing and eliminating all forms of sexual and gender-based assault on campuses across the state.

�She urged students to speak out and report any concern that arises on and off campus to the relevant authorities at all times,� the statement added.

The LSDSVA�s Head of Community Engagement Department, Damilare Adewusi, intimated participants on key terms of SGBV such as gender-based violence, physical assault, emotional abuse, rape, defilement, consent, and other SGBV-related terms.

He also disclosed the agency�s numerous SGBV-related support services, including legal aid, psychiatric counselling, rescue operations, and empowerment, urging them to use the toll-free line � 0-8000-333-333 to report cases.