The Lagos State Government has released a directory of gender-based violence coordinators in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to help survivors and other members of the public reach the appropriate officials for reporting cases, referrals and access to support services.
The directory, published by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, is intended to strengthen coordination among agencies and organisations responding to gender-based violence across the country, while making it easier for citizens to identify and contact state-level officials.
The agency said the publication followed a two-day national convening of GBV state coordinators hosted by Lagos State, with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme.
The programme was funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
In a statement signed by the Head of the DSVA Public Affairs Unit, Onadipe Opebere, and obtained by The PUNCH on Monday, the agency said the directory was part of its continuing efforts to improve collaboration among stakeholders involved in preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
“The directory provides key contact details of GBV State Coordinators, serving as a practical resource to support reporting, referrals, and access to appropriate response services for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence,” the statement said.
The agency explained that the directory was designed to strengthen referral pathways among stakeholders and help citizens navigate the response system when seeking assistance for gender-based violence.
“It is designed to strengthen coordination and referral pathways among stakeholders working in GBV prevention and response, while making it easier for citizens to identify and connect with the appropriate state-level contacts,” it added.
The publication provides a national point of reference for individuals and organisations seeking to connect survivors with the relevant state-level coordinators, particularly where assistance or referrals may be required beyond the state in which a case is reported.
The agency urged members of the public, government institutions, civil society organisations and community groups to use the directory and circulate it through their networks to widen awareness of the available contacts.
“The Lagos State Government encourages individuals, organisations, government institutions, civil society organisations, community groups, and other stakeholders to make use of the directory and share it widely within their networks,” the statement said.
The national convening that preceded the publication brought together state coordinators to strengthen collaboration and improve the coordination of responses to gender-based violence.