The Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC II) and International IDEA has sensitised 65 Community members in its Legal Clinic in Mushin Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos State.
Bose Ironsi , Executive Director, WRAHP said that the initiative was a critical step in addressing the persistent issues of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) within our communities. With a focus on empowering communities and survivors.
Ironsi said that the clinic seeks to bridge the gap in legal services, ensuring access to justice for underprivileged and marginalized groups, particularly women and girls.
“SGBV remains a pervasive challenge in Lagos State, leaving survivors struggling to understand and navigate complex legal systems while often facing societal stigma.
” The Community Legal Clinic in Mushin LGA aims to offer a platform for participants to access professional, confidential, and compassionate legal advice.
“Beyond providing legal advice, the clinic will serve as an educational platform, empowering participants with knowledge about their rights under key legal frameworks, including the Lagos State Protection against Domestic Violence Law, Criminal Law of Lagos State and The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law.
“The clinic offers comprehensive services to ensure survivors receive holistic support. Participants will access counselling services on human rights, SGBV laws, and practical safety planning.
“Through knowledge-sharing sessions, survivors and community members will gain invaluable insights into their legal rights and the resources available to them, fostering greater awareness and resilience within the community” Ironsi said.
She said the initiative extends its reach beyond individual survivors by engaging the broader community, working closely with key stakeholders, including artisans, market traders, and religious leaders, the clinic promotes a collaborative approach to addressing SGBV.
She said this inclusive engagement seeks to build a network of informed and supportive community structures that actively contribute to the prevention of abuse and the protection of survivors.
Commenting, Barr Iyabo Akinlade, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Lagos Office said that the clinic exposed the participants to various forms of Social and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
Akinlade said that she observed that SGBV was on the increase in Lagos and enough awareness was not given about it.
She said that it was very important for NGOs to sensitise the public about the menace and prevention of SGBV.
Also, Barr Clementina Olaniyan, Secretary, Human Rights Committee, Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja branch said that the clinic was a laudable project.
Olaniyan said that legal practitioners have observed that some of the SGBV crimes were on the rise and there was need to curb it.
She said that the best way to curb was to start from the community and the clinic was one of such.
“We have been able to tell them about these offences, the punishment and the remedies available to survivors.
“I will like that we don’t just end it here because we also intend to do follow up on some of the persons we have discussed with here today ” she said.
A participant, Mrs Mary Okunlola, Chairperson, Artisans, Mushin LGA said that the sensitisation clinic was very educative.
Okunlola said that members were very impressed when they heard about the clinic which made them to come out enmass.
She said that the NGO was able to educate them on their rights, privileges and what they need to know about SGBV.
She said that it was a welcome idea and called for the continuity of the clinic.
