Lagos State Govt Approves 112 Emergency Lines for Rape and Domestic Violence

According to the government, the decision is in line with its quest to ensure that victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence have a voice and concerned members of the public who wish to report acts of violence are able to do so with utmost confidentiality.

Meanwhile, the State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) has concluded training for 190 officials of the State Emergency Command And Control Centre on how to receive reports of Sexual and Gender Based Violence incidents.

According to The Nation, DSVRT Coordinator Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi told journalists yesterday that the officials were trained on how to receive reports of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

She said aside the dissemination of the information to the appropriate agencies for action, callers would be informed of relevant steps to be taken, depending on the nature of the call.

“They would also be given details, addresses and telephone numbers of the relevant agencies that would handle their issues; for cases of rape or defilement, they can report such to the Mirabel Centre or the Office of the Public Defender (OPD),” Vivour-Adeniyi said.

She said necessary steps have been put in place to help victims of domestic violence get help and counselling as well as free legal services from the OPD.

“The essence of this initiative is to encourage victims and members of the public to make use of the 112 toll free emergency lines to ensure access to justice irrespective of class and means,” she said.

Posted by Janice Johnson