September 2022
The European Union (EU) has made a commitment to continue to support measures to increase access to justice for victims of sexual violence. The commitment was made by the EU’s Managing Director for Africa, Rita Laranjinha, when she visited Idera Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Lagos on 19 July 2022. She was accompanied by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, along with other EU delegates.
The EU delegation was received at the Centre by the Medical Director of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Ayo Soyinka, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Health, doctors, counsellors, and the RoLAC team.
The Idera SARC was established in Alimosho General Hospital by ROLAC in March 2021. Since then, it has contributed to better justice outcomes for survivors of SGBV in Lagos state. Between March 2021 and June 2022, the SARC provided services free of charge to 137 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Over 75% of the survivors were girls under 17 years old. Out of the cases reported, arrests have been made in 57% of those cases, with 16% undergoing prosecution and conviction secured in one.
The Idera Centre is the third SARC established in Lagos. All three SARCs (Idera, Mirabel, WARIF) have received some degree of support from RoLAC.
“It is important for us to join forces in the struggle against sexual violence. We will put resources together and partner with relevant stakeholders for justice to be served.’’
Rita Laranjinha, Managing Director for Africa, European Union
