The Lagos State Government has unveiled the Lagos State Gender-Based Violence Prevention Policy, describing it as a major step towards strengthening the prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across the state.
The policy, developed with support from the Ford Foundation, provides a comprehensive framework for addressing SGBV in homes, workplaces, schools and digital spaces, including Technology-Facilitated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
The framework operationalises the Lagos Declaration of Zero Tolerance for all forms of SGBV and shifts emphasis from a largely response-driven approach to institutionalised prevention. It focuses on addressing the root causes of violence, harmful social norms, protection of survivors and accountability.
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said prevention required identifying and addressing factors that enable violence before it occurs.
She said the policy would provide a structured framework for coordinating prevention efforts across government institutions, communities and other sectors, while promoting education, awareness and stronger systems for protecting residents.
The policy is built around four interconnected pillars: Primary Prevention through Education and Awareness; Secondary Prevention through Strengthened Legal and Policy Frameworks; Tertiary Prevention through Survivor-Centred Services; and Quaternary Prevention through Capacity Building of First Responders.
The primary prevention pillar focuses on education, awareness and social norm transformation, including promoting consent, bodily autonomy and digital safety. The secondary pillar strengthens legal and institutional mechanisms for early intervention and accountability, including streamlined standard operating procedures for law enforcement and the use of the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register.
The tertiary pillar promotes survivor-centred services that prioritise the rights, choices, dignity and privacy of survivors, while improving access to medical, legal, psychosocial and economic support. The fourth pillar focuses on improving the capacity of first responders and service providers to prevent and respond effectively to SGBV.
Implementation of the policy will be overseen by a multi-sectoral Technical Working Group anchored by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, in collaboration with relevant ministries, departments and agencies as well as civil society organisations.
The framework also provides for localised data indicators, heat mapping, quarterly reviews and public reporting to monitor implementation, measure progress and ensure that interventions remain responsive and accountable.
