THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA 2005 - UNDP Nigeria ...

CHAPTER FIVEWOMEN AND OTHER GENDER RELATED MATTERSA citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group,place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, byreason only he is such a person­2 be subjected to either expressly by, or in the practicalapplication of any law in force in Nigeria or any executive oradministrative action of any government, to disabilities or restrictions to whichcitizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex,religion or political opinions are not made subject; or3 be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any lawin force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, anyprivilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of othercommunities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religion or politicalopinions.Section 42(1), Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights andfreedoms recognized and guaranteed in the present Charter withoutdistinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, sex, language, religion,political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birthor other status.Article 2, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ RightsStates Parties condemn discrimination against women in all itsforms, agreed to pursue by all appropriate means and without delaya policy of eliminating discrimination against women and, to this end,Undertake:(a) To embody the principle of the equality of men and women in theirnational constitutions or other appropriate legislation if not yet incorporatedtherein and to ensure, through law and other appropriatemeans, the practical realization of this principle;(b) To adopt appropriate legislative and other measures, including sanctionswhere appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against women;(c) To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis withmen and to ensure through competent national tribunals and other publicinstitutions the effective protection of women against any act ofdiscrimination;(d) To refrain from engaging in acts of discrimination against women and toensure that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity withthis obligation;(e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination againstwomen by any person, organization or enterprise;(f) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify orabolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitutediscrimination against women;47