The Lagos State Government, through the Office of the Public Defender, has embarked on a sensitization/awareness campaign among the Hausa Community in Agege as part of efforts to reduce the incidence of domestic and sexual violence in the State.
Speaking at the Palace of the Majalisar Sarkin Agege, Head of the Chieftaincy Council of Hausa Community, the Director of the Public Defender, Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi said that the State Government has zero tolerance for domestic violence and as such will not rest on its oars in ensuring that lives and property of the citizenry are safe.
The Director explained that Domestic Violence is a social menace which can come in different forms, such as sexual, psychological, physical, emotional and financial, adding that there is a Law being put in a place by Lagos State Government to prevent violence in any form.
She pointed out that teenage pregnancy is on the increase most especially in highly populated areas in the State like Agege, saying that “parents and guardians must take care of their children, give them good education to secondary school level which is free in Lagos State, inculcate good behaviour in them, communicate often with them and be their friend so that they can confide in you on any matter bothering them”.
Mrs. Adeyemi also appealed to the Majalisar Sarkin Agege, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogon Kadai to use his good offices to educate the people of the community on the need to shun Domestic Violence in all ramifications.
Speaking on the issue of defilement of the young female child which is a sexual violence, she said it is not only unacceptable but traumatizing to hear a story of an adult defiling a female child under 18-year-old, adding that the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law prohibits the act which is a punishable offence under the law.
She further said that the purpose of embarking on sensitization/awareness campaign to the community was to ensure that the people in that environment enjoy the free legal services rendered by the Office.
According to her, OPD was established to ensure that the Poor, Persons Living with Disability, the Pensioners, the Widows and other disadvantaged members of the society who cannot afford the legal fees of Lawyers can enjoy free legal services.
Source: LASG.
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