Ending gender violence is everyone’s duty — Lagos AG

The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN). Photo: Lagos State Government

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, has said the fight against gender-based violence cannot be left to government alone, urging individuals, families, professionals, religious and traditional leaders and institutions to take responsibility for preventing abuse and protecting survivors.

Pedro, represented by the ministry’s Director of Advisory Services and Judicial Liaison, Folashade Anibaba-Bossman, spoke at the 2026 Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month Commendation and Award Night, where the Lagos State Government recognised individuals and institutions for contributions to the fight against gender-based violence.

He said the purple campaign and awareness activities might end with the month, but the responsibility to prevent violence must continue beyond the campaign.

“The colour may come down, but the commitment must not,” Pedro said.

The Attorney-General said the fight against gender-based violence required responsibility at every level, from government and law enforcement to healthcare workers, teachers, parents, religious leaders and members of the public.

“A police officer receiving a frightened survivor, a doctor recognising that an injury may indicate abuse, a prosecutor pursuing a difficult case and a teacher noticing a sudden change in a child could all play decisive roles in preventing further violence,” Pedro said.

He also called for greater responsibility within families and communities, saying parents must teach boys that strength does not mean control, while friends and other bystanders should be prepared to challenge abusive behaviour.

According to him, the state had spent the year engaging communities, markets, schools, workplaces, professionals, survivors, law enforcement officers and young people as part of efforts to strengthen the response to domestic and sexual violence.

He said the state had also strengthened stakeholder conversations and professional capacity, hosted the national meeting of state GBV coordinators and advanced legal and institutional measures aimed at prevention.

But Pedro pointed out that the most important question remained whether individuals and institutions were prepared to act when confronted with violence.

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“Ultimately, society must decide what it will tolerate, and what it will no longer excuse,” he said.

The commissioner said the awards were intended not merely as recognition but as an acknowledgement of the people working behind the scenes to support survivors and strengthen the justice system.

He commended lawyers, prosecutors, police officers, healthcare professionals, social workers, psychologists, civil society organisations and other frontline responders for their work.

“Your work is often difficult, sometimes emotionally exhausting, and much of it happens far away from cameras and ceremonies such as this,” Pedro said.

“Every survivor supported, child protected, case secured and incident of violence prevented represents the impact of such interventions.”

Pedro also acknowledged that sustained political will and institutional investment were necessary to ensure that the safety and dignity of citizens remained a fundamental responsibility of government.

The commissioner cautioned against treating the end of the awareness month as the end of the campaign.

“Let the purple ribbons come down. Let the banners be removed. Let the events conclude, but the awareness must remain,” he said.

Pedro urged stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, improve institutions and build communities that would no longer tolerate violence.

He said, “Ending gender-based violence is not somebody else’s responsibility. It begins with us.”