The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has strongly condemned a viral social media video showing a mother and her children publicly shaming a young boy for bedwetting. The agency classified the family's actions as verbal and emotional abuse, emphasizing that bedwetting is a condition children cannot control and must never be used to shame, ridicule, or humiliate a minor.
Video Shows Family Members Mocking Child
In the clip, which has circulated widely on social media, family members line up to take turns in front of a camera, each declaring that they do not wet the bed. The targeted child is forced to speak last, introducing himself to the camera as the one who bedwets. The video sparked outrage online, prompting the DSVA to issue a formal statement.
The agency stressed that such public exposure can have lasting psychological effects on a child. It noted that children experiencing bedwetting may already feel embarrassed or anxious, and being mocked by family members only compounds the harm.
DSVA Calls for Positive Parenting
In its statement, the DSVA said: “What we are seeing here is verbal and emotional abuse of a child. Bedwetting is not a reason to shame, ridicule, humiliate or publicly expose a child.”
The agency further emphasized that “children deserve to grow up in environments where they feel safe, loved and supported, especially when they are experiencing something they may not even be able to control.”
This is why the DSVA continues to advocate for child wellbeing and positive parenting. “The adults responsible for raising children have a duty to protect their emotional and psychological wellbeing, not become the source of their pain,” the statement added.
Impact and Next Steps
The DSVA’s condemnation serves as a reminder to parents and guardians about the importance of protecting children’s mental health. The agency’s statement reinforces that ridicule and public shaming are never acceptable disciplinary or parenting tools.
By speaking out, the DSVA aims to educate the public and encourage families to adopt supportive approaches when addressing childhood conditions like bedwetting, which require patience and understanding rather than humiliation.
