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LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has introduced two new initiatives aimed at enhancing access to support services for survivors and mandated reporters.
These initiatives, which include a Self-Reporting Tool for the Domestic and Sexual Violence Case Management System (DSVCMS), reflect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s dedication to offering thorough support and justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
The survivors and mandated reporters can confidentially submit case information by visiting Lagosdsvcms.org. The tool also allows for the upload of crucial evidence, such as photographs, audio or video files, and medical documentation.
Head of the Public Affairs Unit at DSVA, Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni, spoke about the initiative and underscored the necessity of enhancing evidence collection and preservation to ensure prompt and effective justice.
She pointed out that around 60 percent of survivors who initially possess pictorial, documentary, or audio evidence of abuse either lose it, inadvertently or intentionally erase it, or have their devices destroyed by their abusive partners.
“With this portal, survivors can safely store and access their evidence when investigations commence or whenever they choose to seek justice,” said Ladenegan-Oginni.
She stressed that improved evidence gathering and preservation would be vital in constructing cases for survivors and bolstering the prosecution of domestic violence cases in Lagos State, which has encountered considerable challenges in this regard.
Executive Secretary of Lagos DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, also praised the new initiatives, stating that they illustrate the agency’s commitment to utilizing technology to dismantle the culture of silence, facilitate seamless access to support for survivors, and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
“With these innovations, Lagos State continues to take the lead in the fight against domestic and sexual violence—guaranteeing that survivors receive the support and justice they merit while actively striving to prevent future incidents and minimize such occurrences,” Vivour-Adeniyi remarked.
