… Pledges continuous Judicial support at adornment of Judges.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has today at the Lagos State High Court Osborne adorned Judges and Magistrates of the Family Courts and the Domestic and Sexual offences Courts with purple ribbons, in commemoration of Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence awareness month of September, 2023.
Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, the Hon. Chief Judge of Lagos State at the ceremony called on all judicial officers in the State to continue to support the crusade against SGBV.
In His Lordship’s words “I would like us to become apostles of this fight against this heinous crime because as I have always said, once you debase a lady, you have dehumanize society. The scar will always be there . It will impact even to children and the trend continues.
“That is the more reason we must not relent in our efforts in fighting against this menace, not only in our official capacities, but where we see something, please say something and encourage anyone experiencing Abuse in any form to speak out because these crimes thrive in the cover which we give it, in the name of cultural habits. Reporting perpetrators , and ensuring they are prosecuted and dealt with by the law is fundamental, and one of the sure ways of ensuring it is eradicated.
“So, I want to thank the Executive Secretary and the entire DSVA team for doing so well in the fight against this menace, posterity will reward you for doing so much for humanity.
Executive Secretary, Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi at the adorning ceremony thanked the revered Judges and magistrates for the opportunity to adorn
judicial officers with purple crests which symbolize and depict domestic violence awareness.
She said the event was symbolic and in commemoration of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month which is in September in keeping up with the DSVA’s statutory mandate of heightening awareness and ensuring residents of Lagos are appropriately informed about the issues of SGBV, penalties when flouted and most importantly inform of free support services that exist that they can take advantage of.
“We use this opportunity to appreciate the Lagos State Judiciary for remaining at the forefront, for being the pace setters for other State Judiciaries to emulate. It is undoubtedly on record that the Lagos State Judiciary is the first State in Nigeria to designate specialized courts for the adjudication of Domestic and Sexual Violence Offences. This is just one of the many firsts of the Lagos State Judiciary”
“We use this medium to however solicit for continuous support from the judiciary in ensuring that the relevant criminal laws on Sexual and Gender Based Violence are interpreted and applied with gender sensitivity and that SGBV cases are adjudicated upon swiftly. Indeed, justice delayed is Justice denied” Vivour-Adeniyi added.
Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni
Lagos DSVA
26/9/23
