THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

Human rights represent fundamental entitlements inherent to all individuals, irrespective of
nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion, or status. Within this framework, women’s rights stand as indispensable
guarantees of equality and dignity. This article critically examined the conceptual foundations of women’s
rights, tracing their development from normative principles to their codification in binding international
and domestic instruments. It analyses the core international human rights framework, including the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants, the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and regional mechanisms such as the African Charter and
the Maputo Protocol; with particular emphasis on their application and limitations within the Nigerian
context. The discussion highlights the supremacy of the 1999 Constitution, the non-domestication of key
treaties, and the inconsistencies within domestic legislation such as the Violence Against Persons
(Prohibition) Act, 2015, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The article concludes by
advocating for strengthened international cooperation, comprehensive constitutional and legislative
reforms, proactive judicial activism, and robust domestic enforcement mechanisms, alongside sustained
socio-cultural transformation. These measures are essential to safeguard and advance women’s rights in
Nigeria and to ensure their full realization in the 21st century.