The Lagos State government has revealed that between August 2022 and July 2023, a total of 2,588 children experienced sexual and emotional abuse within the context of various domestic violence incidents in the state.
Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, made this disclosure during a media briefing marking the commencement of the 2023 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, with the theme ‘Not in my Lagos.’
Shitta-Bey, represented by the Executive Secretary, of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, explained that 40 percent of the affected children have undergone counseling programs to help them cope with the psychological impact of the events they witnessed, aiming to prevent lasting negative effects.
Shitta-Bey stated: “From August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, the agency has handled 5624 cases which are into two categories, adults and children.
“The agency now receives an average of 250 clients every month. For adults- 91 per cent of survivors were female, 9 per cent were male, while for children- 45 per cent of survivors were boys, 55 per cent were girls.
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“In the period under review, the Agency has provided services to 7 Persons with Disabilities who were experiencing one form of Gender-Based Violence or the other.
“The youngest child that experienced sexual violence was an 18-month-old baby, while the oldest client that experienced domestic violence was a 79-year-old woman.
“The effects of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cannot be overemphasized as 90 per cent of the survivors disclosed that they have experienced low self-esteem, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, extreme fear and anxiety, and about five per cent suffered from depression and had to seek medical help.
“Some of the men and women who experienced domestic violence disclosed that they lost their means of livelihood as a result of the abuse.
“The agency has secured 21 restraining orders, granted by the courts under the Protection against Domestic Violence Law, 2015 against abusive spouses. Furthermore, Lagos State Government through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions secured at least 120 judgments during the period under review.”