AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Women are generally seen as vulnerable part of the society compared with the male counterpart, and the patrilineal nature of the society, especially in Africa coupled with religious and cultural factors, make the rights of women to be given little or no attention. The resulting effect of this is that the dignity of womanhood and right to self determinism of a woman is often eroded, thereby making majority of women live their lives in abuse, discrimination and molestation. There is therefore a need for change and women should have full right and sense of belonging. It is in line with this that this research attempts to appraise the legal and institutional provisions on women’s rights in Nigeria. The research methodology was doctrinal approach, using expository and analytical research design. The main sources of data collection were various legal literatures, both from the physical library and the e-library. It was recommended among others that these rights should be adequately enforced and Nigeria should do well by ratifying and domesticating relevant international instruments on the protection of women’s rights in Nigeria and the legislators and the judiciary should adopt the sound principles and related provisions in foreign jurisdictions to advance women’s rights. Finally, this article was made to be significant to all stakeholders in human right and feminism.