The Lagos State Government through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency on Thursday said 1,108 men have reported being domestically abused in six years.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, announced this during the unveiling of the “The Hidden Crime, Violence Against Men” initiative in Ikeja on Thursday.
Vivour-Adeniyi explained that the purpose of the initiative is to empower men to speak out about the various forms of violence they experience.
She mentioned that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had recently emphasized the importance of social inclusion, gender equality, and youth in his inaugural speech on May 29, as part of the THEMES Agenda (Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, Security and Governance).
The Executive Secretary highlighted that sexual and gender-based violence poses a significant obstacle to achieving gender equality.
She stressed the need to break the culture of silence surrounding these issues and stated that men and boys can also be victims of domestic and sexual violence.
The data collected over the past six years revealed that 1,108 men had reported incidents of domestic violence, but this figure does not include male children who have experienced gender-based violence.
Vivour-Adeniyi mentioned that recent community engagement activities conducted by the agency in over 10 local government areas revealed a lack of awareness and attention given to male victims or survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
She referred to research conducted in 2016 in collaboration with the Nigerian Prisons Service, which found that a majority of sex convicts (80.5%) had experienced sexual abuse at a young age, leading to a cycle of abuse. The agency aims to address these issues and provide support services for male victims.
The Executive Secretary emphasized that there should be no shame in sharing their pain, and men should be informed about the different forms of violence and the available support services provided by the state government.
She highlighted the crucial role men play in combating sexual and gender-based violence and expressed the agency’s commitment to inclusive advocacy, prevention, and response mechanisms. Additionally, she mentioned the establishment of an inclusive response team and plans to engage men throughout the state in various activities.
Tobi Ikudaisi, the DSVA Community Engagement Officer, revealed that in 2022 alone, 281 men approached the agency to report incidents of violence.
However, he acknowledged that many men hesitate to come forward due to fear of ridicule from society. Ikudaisi encouraged men to speak up against violence inflicted upon them, emphasizing that speaking out can save lives.