Gender Equality and Sustainable Development: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nigerian Laws and Practices to Guarantee the Woman’s Human Right

Abstract

In light of the prevalence of discriminatory practices and
violence against women, gender equality has been
internationally recognized as one of the sustainable
development goals to be achieved by state parties before the
year 2030. However, achieving equality between men and
women has been the greatest human right issue in Nigeria. The
main aim of this article is to show that women are important in
promoting sustainable development. However there are
provisions of the Nigerian law which discriminate against a
woman. This article argues that sections 221, 353, 357 and 360
of the Criminal Code and sections 55, 282(2) of the Penal Code
discriminate against a girl or woman. In addition, although
Nigeria is a party to a number of international treaties such as
CEDAW, gender discrimination remains a major threat to
sustainable development. The limited number of women
appointed in the senate shows the extent of marginalization of
women in Nigeria. For example, the United Nations rating of
Nigeria in human development is low due to the fact that the
percentage of seats held by women in parliament is so minimal
compared to the men. Therefore the findings of this article are
to assist policymakers in enforcing sustainable practices that
promote gender equality by among other things, amending the
relevant provisions of the criminal code and the penal code
which discriminates against a female in Nigeria. Finally, to
reconsider bringing back the gender equality bill that was
rejected for second reading in 2015 at the floor of the senate.