A Non-Governmental Organisation, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) has urged residents of the Agbado-Oke-Odo LCDA in the Alimosho LGA to speak out whenever there are cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and other human rights violations that concern them or anyone they know.
Media reports state that WRAHP advised this at a recent free legal aid services enlightenment programme organised in conjunction with ActionAid Nigeria for residents of the area.
The group listed sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse, economic exploitation, harassment, intimidation, starvation, child abuse, unlawful landlord eviction, damages to property, and unlawful termination of appointment by employers, among others as some of the issues under domestic violence and other unlawful acts.
Speaking at the forum, which had community leaders, artisans, market men and women, clerics, and others present, the Executive Director of WRAHP, Mrs Bose Ironsi, said the essence of the training is to equip participants with the right knowledge and understanding of their rights and that of others with limitations and what to do and where to go to secure justice if their rights are infringed upon.
Mrs Ironsi, who was represented at the event by the Acting Manager of the Ireti Resource centre, an affiliate of WRAHP, Mrs Precious Eberechukwu, said it is expected that every member of the society co-exists peacefully without infringement on another person’s rights so that the world will be a loving place to live.
She said all forms of domestic violence including rape, wife battery, intimidation, sexual harassment, and also an infringement on the rights of workers and people with disabilities are punishable under laws.
“So, it is required that you speak out and pursue justice whenever your rights are violated notwithstanding by who or which organisation,” she stressed.
One of the resource persons at the programme and a lawyer, Mrs Tunrayo Falade said, even though they may not have money to hire lawyers, many government agencies provide free legal services on a wide range of issues to the underprivileged individuals in society.
She listed the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs and the Citizens Mediation Centres spread across the state as examples of such agencies in Lagos State and that they are functional and effective in their roles.
Within the last three months, the NGO, through ActionAid Nigeria’s Women’s Voices in Leadership project, has provided free legal aid services to 250 community members across five Local Council Development Areas in the Alimosho LGA.
