The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has launched the Smart Teens Advocacy Initiative to educate adolescents on how to identify, prevent and report sexual and gender-based violence.
The programme, held at Girls Senior High School, Agege, brought together 320 students from schools across Education District I under the theme, “Stay Safe, Speak Up.” The initiative aims to promote personal safety, healthy boundaries and peer advocacy among young people.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, urged students to challenge harmful attitudes, respect others and report abuse without fear of blame or intimidation. She also called on parents, teachers and caregivers to ensure children are protected and supported.
In her keynote address, the State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Aderonke Oyelakin, encouraged students to recognise unsafe situations, set personal boundaries, make informed decisions and stay safe online. She stressed the importance of reporting abuse to trusted adults and relevant authorities.
The programme featured discussions on preventing sexual and gender-based violence in schools, including physical, sexual, emotional and technology-facilitated abuse. Students were also taught how to support peers who disclose abuse by listening without judgment, avoiding victim-blaming and helping them access appropriate assistance.
The agency also unveiled the Smart Teens Advocacy Initiative booklet to help young people understand their rights, identify support channels and build the confidence to speak out against abuse. The DSVA said the initiative forms part of its broader efforts to strengthen child protection and prevent sexual and gender-based violence across Lagos State.
