Title: Protecting the interest of the girl-child in Nigeria: matters arising

Authors: Oluwafifehan Ogunde

Addresses: University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG9 1HQ, UK

Abstract: Issues relating to gender equality and protection of women's rights are at the forefront of contemporary human rights discourse. There is a perception, especially in the African setting, that established notions of culture and cultural practices, given their patriarchal foundations have overtime served as major hindrances to the empowerment of women. There is however the distinct possibility that the relationship between culture and women's rights has been misunderstood by scholars, activists and policy-makers. This article is an examination of the empowerment of the girl-child in the context of the Nigerian cultural setting from the standpoint of ideological conceptions grounding established societal behaviour.

Keywords: patriarchy; girls; female rights; Nigerian; gender equality; resocialisation; child marriage; female genital mutilation; FGM; rights culture; rights protection; female empowerment; women; ideology; national culture; children.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2016.076049

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2016 Vol.4 No.1, pp.17 - 30

Received: 17 Nov 2015
Accepted: 18 Nov 2015
Published online: 22 Apr 2016 *

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