THE Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has organised a Parents’ Association Conference on Safeguarding and Child Protection held recently at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa-Ikeja.
Speaking at the one-day interactive programme which attracted over 400 parents, the Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titillola Vivour-Adeniyi, stated that the engagement was designed to enlighten participants on child abuse, signs to look out for, parenting skills, directions for reporting and handling disclosures of abuse, and their role as Mandated Reporters as part of measures to find a lasting solution to cases of domestic and sexual abuse in the State.
Vivour-Adeniyi said, “We have engaged various stakeholders in the fight against domestic violence and we want to ensure parents are not left out or left behind but are being empowered with the relevant skill-set and information to boost their parental skills to prevent sexual and domestic violence cases proactively.
“We want parents to know these cases are prevalent and not be in denial, as we assure them that in events of SGBV cases, there will be justice for survivors and to also let them differentiate between discipline and child abuse. We are also informing parents that perpetrators of these crimes will be made to face the full wrath of the offences irrespective of their relationship with the survivor."
On her part, the Director-General of the Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, lauded DSVA for putting the programme together to sensitise, promote, and ensure the safeguarding of children.
Seriki-Ayeni, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Remi Abdul, advised parents that when the issue of child abuse happens at home, they should endeavour not to sweep them under the carpet as it is pertinent and of utmost importance to report cases of abuse.
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