The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN on Monday December 1st 2015 at the Lagos House Ikeja signed an Executive Order establishing a Sex Offenders’ Register in the State. The major aim of the monitoring programme and the mandated reporting policy is to reduce repeat cases by providing names and personal details of convicted sex offenders in the State in a central database.
J4A programme has supported this process through the Sexual Assault Referral centre (Mirabel) in Lagos which has provided monthly statistics of sexual violence cases to the government through the Ministry of Justice. MOJ has fully accepted the value that the Mirabel Centre provides and has ensured that they have a key role alongside all the other stakeholders in the Domestic and Sexual Violence Working Team that was established in response to the increasing incidence of sexual and gender based violence cases in the State.
The occasion was attended by several civil society organizations including Partnership for Justice, Women Rights and Health Project, the State executive council, Police, Government officials, Development agencies and the Media.
Areas of high prevalence of sexual violence as captured in the Mirabel centre statistics were highlighted and the Governor emphasized the need for a change because the State Government will not hesitate to come after those concerned.
The Attorney General in his speech said the DSVRT has identified and is monitoring 113 sexual violence cases currently at the High Court.
The Governor later signed the banner pledge to say “No to Rape” at the event.