Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, on Wednesday said campaign against gender violence should begin from individual homes.
The governor’s wife, who was represented by Mrs Titilayo Ogunleye, spoke at a Town Hall meeting on “The Role of Society in Tackling Sexual and Gender based Violence”.
It was organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and held in Ikorodu.
“It must begin with how we treat our wives at home, our domestic helps, neighbours, children and pupils.
“When we treat them right and respect their personal liberty, it will end gender violence,’’ she said.
Ambode said that the team had trained more than 800 mandate reporters in less than two years and had also treated more than 150 cases in 2016.
“The response team had also organised workshop and trainings for more than 2000 children on how they can avoid and present themselves in case of assault,’’ she said.
In his remarks, Oba Kabiru Sotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, said that creation of jobs for both skilled and unskilled, might serve as self-antidote against domestic and sexual violence.
The monarch said: “Violence takes many forms which include physical, psychological, emotional and mental. Traditionally, domestic violence is committed against women and girls.
“Government should intensify effort to create job opportunities and empowerment for both men and women to raise their homes.
“About 90 per cent of the violence was due to ignorance, poverty and hard drug induced.
“I recommend that government at all levels should give special attention to education.’’
Also speaking, Mrs Ladapo Alakija, a clinical psychologist and member of the team, said that community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, neighbours and families have role to play in curbing gender-based violence.
“People should speak out to ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted and jailed.
“The churches and mosques should also help in creating awareness, speak against it and educate people not to discriminate or stigmatise any victim,’’ she said.
One of the participants, Mrs Kudirat Dalemo, lauded the state government for taking the sensitisation programme to the grassroot. (NAN)