SGBV: DSVA TRAINS RELIGIOUS COUNSELLORS

The Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has again trained more Religious Counsellors on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at a two-day programme held recently at the LCCI, Alausa, Ikeja.

The training, which was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Christian Association of Nigeria, was borne out of the fact that the State recognises the indispensable role the religious institutions play in shaping belief and confronting norms. The aim is to continue to enhance their reservoir of knowledge to become better advocates for change within their respective communities.

Executive Secretary of the Agency, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said, in her opening address, that domestic and sexual violence in marriage is spreading its tentacles leading to a spiral of events which demand collective attention to combat. She stressed that the state government has remained resolute in safeguarding the sanctity of every individual, regardless of gender or background.

According to her, “We know that religion plays a huge role in shaping mindset, directing behaviours and we also know the role of the religious clerics as well as the role marriage counsellors in different religious institutions play in promoting and discouraging perpetration of Sexual and Gender-Based violence”.

“We thought it is expedient to bring them together, enlighten them about various forms of sexual and gender-based acts and equip them with skills required in their counselling duties, either during pre-counselling for intending couples or post-counselling for married couples”, she added.

The ES averred that the data emanating from the Agency revealed that at least 60 percent of the survivors of gender-based violence have previously reported to their religious clerics before reporting to the DSVA and sometimes they deploy mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution and yet the issue persisted.

She said, “It has, therefore, become compelling to build the capacity of counsellors in the religious institutions to be able to counsel appropriately and know when to refer cases accordingly. More importantly, the putting together of the programme is designed to infuse key issues such as psychometric tests to assess compatibility, red flags, coping mechanisms, love codes and other relevant topics into the pre-marital counselling offered by religious bodies for intending couples. 

One of the Resource Facilitators at the training and CEO of Praise Fowowe Ltd, Mrs. Motolani Falabi emphasised the need for the individuals going into marriage to understand their identities before picking up that responsibility and ensuring they know the building blocks that are crucial to having a successful marriage.

Her words, “The future of the society is at the mercy of our marriage and the couple must have someone that can mentor them. So, marriage must have a vision, value and focus which invariably will determine the kind of children that will be churned out into the society. The Family is the production factory of society while the future of our world rests on good parenting. If we get it right, then, we can have a better world”.

Acknowledging the State government efforts, the over 54 religious marriage counsellors also appreciated the Lagos DSVA for bringing to the fore, issues that will make swift prevention and response to sexual violence in marriage, particularly how marriage counsellors can confront and restore peace to homes.

They emphasised the need to intensify advocacy on premarital engagement by professional counsellors and be able to build the seemingly poor marital understanding that is affecting most marriages today.