Gender equality is seeing males and females as being of equal status and value. It is judging a person based on their merit, and not viewing them as inferior or superior purely based on their gender. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) defined as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedom in the political economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field”. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. It is a fight that should be fought not only by girls or women alone. Everyone has a part to play in making sure girls and women are treated equally and have access to equal opportunities. There are points that should be put into consideration in the fight against gender inequality. Education Despite one’s gender, every citizen of Nigeria have right to education. According to UNICEF, “When we educate a girl, we not only give her the tools and knowledge to make her own decisions and shape her own future, we also help raise the standard of living of her family and her community.” Educated girls have the skills and knowledge they need to lead more independent lives, which could help them advocate against and avoid child marriage, as well as female genital mutilation. Girls who have little or no education are up to six times more likely to be married as children than girls who have secondary schooling, UNICEF says. It is also a known fact that girl-child marriage is a norm that is of common practice in the Northern part of Nigeria. Guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential is critical not only for attaining gender equality, but also for meeting a wide range of international development goals. As the saying goes when you educate one girl child you educate a nation. Empowered women and girls contribute to the health and productivity of their families, communities, and countries, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone. Yet women and girls can be vital to policy making and peace building. In fact, research has shown that including women in the peace building process increases the likelihood of ending violence and reaching a lasting peace agreement. Get Men Involved: Fight against gender inequality should not be done alone by women. It isn’t just about girls fighting up for what is right, it’s also about boys standing up to what is wrong because, as Hillary Clinton famously said, “women’s rights are human rights.” We cannot solve the issue of gender bias by having only women focus on it. Men have valuable input, too, that must be considered. It is unfair to place the burden on women only. Laws and Decisions There are still discriminatory laws against women persisting in every part of the world and new discriminatory laws are enacted which Nigeria is not an exception. It was recently that the Supreme court held that “No matter the circumstances of the birth of a female child, such a child is entitled to an inheritance from her late father’s estate. Consequently the Igbo customary law which disentitles a female child from partaking, in the sharing of her deceased father’s estate is in breach of section 42 (1) and (2) of the Constitution, a fundamental rights provision guaranteed to every Nigerian. The said discriminatory customary law is void as it conflicts with section 42(1) and (2) of the Constitution.” (Ukeje v. Ukeje [2014] LPELR-22724 (SC). There are laws that promotes legality of child marriage. Assaults and marital rapes are not considered a crime, Women prohibited from night work, and so many others. These are laws and decisions that promote gender discrimination against women. They violate the letters and spirit of the provisions of the Nigerian constitution on equality, and obligations of Nigeria under various international treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Child Rights Convention (CRC). Laws like these “that discriminate against women and girls, entrench and perpetuate gender inequality,” the Executive Director of UN Women has said. In order to make progress as a country, we must review these laws and ensure that we bring to an end all practices that are discriminatory or harmful to women. Implementing new legal frameworks regarding female equality in the workplace and the eradication of harmful practices targeted at women is crucial to ending the gender-based discrimination prevalent in many countries around the world. Role of leaders Directors, Traditional leaders, and clergies must understand gender equality is all about so as enable them educate the people around them. By Unini Chioma K]]>
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