WARIF partners Lagos police to curb sexual assault, violence

Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF) has joined forces with the police force in Lagos to tackle sexual assault, violence, and rape.

An interactive session recently took place at the police officers mess in Ikeja, where Kemi Da-Silva Ibru, founder of WARIF, gave a presentation on the importance of a society where women are free from sexual assault, violence, and rape.

Da-Silva encouraged Fatai Owoseni, Lagos police commissioner, his area commanders, and all Nigerian police to send sexual assault and rape cases to referral centres such as the WARIF Centre in Yaba, where adequate medical treatment and counselling can be given.

As a member of the Lagos state domestic and sexual violence response team (DSVRT), DaSilva also reiterated the organisation’s commitment to working alongside law enforcement, to ensure the well-being of survivors.

In response to concerns raised at the session, Da-Silva said the WARIF Centre has a team of qualified full-time medical staff, trained to carry out medical examinations and obtain biological specimens to facilitate the collection of evidence and help with police investigations.

Also, in the event of survivors recanting for fear of stigmatisation and discrimination, counsellors trained by the Washington DC rape crisis centre (DCRCC) in partnership with WARIF, are able to assist them with the healing process, ensuring they become empowered and seek justice if this is their choice, she added.