Existence, Enforcements and Practicability of the Legal Frameworks for the Protection of Women and Children’s Rights in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria has gained the unpopular recognition globally as a patriarchal society in which the inalienable rights of women are often subjected to ridicule, extensive abuse, neglect and violations. These abuses can also be traced to the non-protective nature of the Nigerian child among its citizenry. Cultural, religious and societal norms have arguably entrenched a historical imbalance in power relationships among men, women and children and have tilted the overall perceptions of the rights of women and children in Nigeria until recently. In Nigeria, it could be said that the abuse of the natural rights of a woman is a reflection of the non-challant attitude of the society to the recognition of the rights of the child. The rapid ascendancy of human rights in Nigeria, coupled with Nigeria’s prominent role as a signatory to virtually all the core international human right treaties and instruments and the domestication of same in line with S.12 of its Constitution (1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended), raised expectations that women and children in Nigeria may begin to enjoy some measure of protection from archaic and anachronistic practices that subject them to wanton abuses. This paper examines the nature, scope and extent of human rights protection afforded to children and women under Nigerian domestic laws and under international laws. It reflects on Specific key issues as it relates to the protection and fulfillment of the rights of children and women in Nigeria. It further critic the existence and enforceability of such right laws while examining the practicability of the enforcements of the various provisions as contained in these legal frameworks already in existence for the protection of the woman and children in Nigeria. It is thus concluded that there exist circumstances that either facilitate or hinder the implementation of executed and domesticated treaties as it relates to women and children’s rights, observed limitations to these rights were reported while agencies or bodies that could help to enforce these rights were recommended..

Keywords: Convention, Rights, Women, Child, Implementation, Administrative, Nigeria, Legal Framework

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/91-16

Publication date: November 30^th 2019