Rethinking Some Cultural Practices that Affect the Rights of Women and Children in Nigeria

Abstract

Human Rights have been identified as encompassing and embracing the rights of all humans which are entitled to. These rights, amongst others, include civil and political rights such as the right to life and liberty, dignity, equality before the law and freedom of expression. Others are those of the right to work, the right to education, participation in culture and economic rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) affirms the universal recognition of the inherent dignity, equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Thus, both men and women are entitled, on equal footing, to full protection of their rights and freedom because they are human beings. This research therefore examines the role of customary laws and their impacts on women and children’s rights in Nigeria - a developing country, since according to available information, it is in these regions that women’s rights are mostly violated and there is an urgent need for action to eliminate such practices. The doctrinal research method has been adopted to achieve the goal of this research and we conclude with some far reaching suggestions and recommendations for implementation

Keywords: Cultural Practices, Widowhood, Right of Women and Nigeria