OPD SENSITIZES HAUSA COMMUNITY IN AGEGE ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
The Lagos State Government through the Office of the Public Defender has carried out sensitization/awareness campaign in the Hausa Community in Agege in order to reduce to barest minimum level the incidence of domestic and sexual violence in that environ.
Speaking at the Palace of theMajalisarSarkinAgege, Chieftaincy Council of Hausa Community, Mrs.OlayinkaAdeyemi 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 properties of the citizenry are save.
The Director of the Public Defender explained that Domestic Violence is a social menace which can come in different form, it can either be sexual, psychological, physical, emotional and financial adding that there is a Law being put in a place as a prevention against it by theLagos State Government.
She pointed out that teenage pregnancy is on the increase most especially in highly populated area in the State which Agege is part of thus urging parents/guidance to take care of your children, give them good education atleast to secondary school level which is free in Lagos State, inculcategood behaviour in them, communicate often with them and be their friend so that they can speak to you on any matter bothering them.
Mrs Adeyemiappealed to the MajalisarSarkinAgege, Alhaji Musa MuhammedDogonKadai to use his good office to educate the people ofthe community on the need to shun Domestic Violence in all ramification.
Speaking on the issue of defilement of young female child which is sexual violence, Mrs Adeyemi said that the act is not acceptable and traumatizing to see or hear a story of an adult defiling a female child under 18 year adding that the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law prohibit the act and it’s a punishable offence in Lagos State.
She further said that the purpose of embarking on sensitization/awareness campaign to the community was to ensure that the people in that environ 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 Lawyerscan enjoy free legal services”.