The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, has urged victims of sexual and gender-based violence to report acts of violence, saying the report will be treated with confidentiality.

It added that it had concluded training for 190 officials of the state Emergency Command and Control Centre on how to receive reports of sexual and gender-based violence.

The DSVRT on Sunday explained that it was the wish of the Lagos State Government to ensure that victims of sexual and gender-based violence had a voice.

Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said, “Any concerned members of the public who wish to report acts of violence are able to do so with utmost confidentiality. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team 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 in the state. The officials were trained on how to handle reports of sexual and gender-based violence.”

Vivour-Adeniyi said the government had also approved the use of the 112 toll-free emergency line.

She said, “The line can be used to report cases of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, maltreatment and other sexual assaults. Any information provided will be passed across while the concerned agencies will be notified immediately.”

She said aside the dissemination of the information to the appropriate agencies for appropriate 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 instance, for cases of rape or defilement, they can report such to the Mirabel Centre or the Office of the Public Defender,” Vivour-Adeniyi said.

She added that necessary steps had been taken to help victims of domestic violence get adequate 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 line to ensure access to justice irrespective of class and means,” the DSVRT boss said.

– See more at: http://www.wardc.org/lagos-urges-residents-to-report-gender-based-violence/#sthash.M1yc4eO5.dpuf