The Lagos State government, through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), says 75 per cent of survivors have prior knowledge of their partner’s abusive behaviour before marriage.

Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the executive secretary, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), said this during an engagement with members of the Association of Professional Wedding Engagement Coordinators of Nigeria (APWECON).

Ms Vivour-Adeniyi said despite being aware of their partners’ abusive behaviour, some survivors still married such people.

“Statistics from our agency reveal that over 75 per cent of clients reporting matrimonial abuses had prior knowledge of the abusive behaviour of their partners but proceeded with the union for various reasons.

“Also, 70 per cent of these survivors submit to customary law and marriage,” she said.

Ms Vivour-Adeniyi said that while DSVA ensures that survivors of domestic and sexual violence get the necessary/available support and services needed, preventive measures remain the most efficient ways of addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) issues.

She said that engaging APWECON (Alaga Ijoko/Iduro) on their role in preventing the menace of domestic and sexual violence in the state is one of the measures of preventing such abuses.

Ms Vivour-Adeniyi added that the agency was embarking on sustainable and proactive programmes in the fight against the menace of SGBV.

The executive secretary said statistics had shown that marriage contracted under customary law and traditional practice were the preferred forms of solemnisation.

She said that the alagas’ strategic while interfacing with intending couples and attending participants could not be undermined in such forms of solemnisation.

”We use this medium to implore you to use your influence in the course of officiating traditional unions to advocate against domestic violence and preach the zero tolerance message,” Ms Vivour-Adeniyi said.

In her goodwill message, the APWECON governor, Matilda Shipeolu, said the association had always prioritised addressing sexual and gender-based violence issues before, during, and after marriage.

(NAN)