The Lagos State government has announced that anyone caught sharing or forwarding child pornography and obscene publications about children on social media risks a 14-year jail term, as provided in the state?s domestic and sexual violence law.

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this during a one-day workshop for headteachers, teachers, social workers, and school counsellors in Lagos.

She said: ?Forwarding child pornography, as provided for in the Lagos State domestic and sexual violence law, can attract up to 14 years imprisonment.

?Child pornography and obscene publications are criminal, and what we aim to do is bring it home and make the participants aware, discouraging the forwarding of such obscene videos, especially via social media. We all know that pornography can have a negative impact on the cognitive behaviour of those who watch it. So, it is important for us, especially when it comes to children, to inform our participants, guidance counsellors, teachers, and heads of schools, and let them know.?

Vivour-Adeniyi stated that the Lagos State government, over the years, has been building the capacity of stakeholders to safeguard the rights and protect children.

She added that the workshop was held for the participants because school counsellors, social workers, and heads of schools play a critical role in ensuring that children in their care have their rights adequately safeguarded and protected.

?This is because they are mandated reporters. They have a duty to see, say, and do something in any domestic and sexual violence incidents. We believe that enlightenment is truly superior to enforcement, so routinely, we engage in this kind of activity where we build the capacity of these key service providers, imparting them with relevant knowledge on laws that relate to these issues, talking to them about their roles with the hope that they will be more equipped in preventing and appropriately responding to child protection disclosures that may arise in their institutions.? (The Guardian)

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