AN APPRAISAL OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN NIGERIA AND SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Abstract

Women’s rights are human rights and human rights are of universal application. Nigeria is one of countries with not so encouraging human rights records. Women in Nigeria are subjected to various human rights abuses. Women’s rights to life, freedom of expression and association, right to free movement, right to education, right to adequate health and right to dignity are frequently violated. Are these violations peculiar to Nigeria, or do women in other jurisdictions suffer human rights abuses? This paper analysed women’s human rights abuses occasioned by harmful cultural practices in Nigeria and compared it with what happens to women in South Africa and India. The study also took a look at the constitutions of the three countries and some other laws and policies geared towards the protection of the human rights of women. The Research methodology was doctrinal. The paper found that most of the human rights abuses suffered by women in Nigeria are equally suffered by women in the two other jurisdictions. The paper also revealed that women in the three jurisdictions are subjected to harmful traditional practices. The paper made recommendations as to what Nigeria could learn from South Africa and India to improve on the protection of the human rights of women in Nigeria. As part of the recommendations, this paper calls for review of the Nigerian constitution by making chapter 2 justiciable, and the enactment of laws that protect women from gender-based violence.