The foundation of human rights principles is discrimination. Gender ideology and patriarchal interests have been the foundation of the discrimination against women that is deeply ingrained in our culture and societal norms.
Despite modernization, there are still a large number of cultural practices that discriminate against women and restrict their ability to exercise their human rights. These practices are still in use today and are supported by a sizable portion of the population. They include;
• Female genital mutilation
• Child marriage
• Forced marriage
• Virginity testing
• Harmful widowhood practices e.g, ritual cleansing, confinement, forceful shaving of hair, etc.
• Legalized wife battery, by a husband for the purpose of correcting his wife in the North recognized as lawful. ~ Section 55(1)(d) of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
• Female disinheritance
Women’s civil, economic, social, and fundamental rights are directly impacted by this marginalization of women on a cultural and societal level. International treaties like the Convention on the Political Rights of Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, both of which Nigeria ratified, have addressed these issues.
We can create a society devoid of discrimination against women by enhancing the legal protection of women, raising awareness, and empowering women.
Women are humans, and their rights are human rights too.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
#SpeakWednesday #Women’sRights #HumanRights #GenderStereotype #GenderBias #GenderInequality
