An Appraisal of Rights – Based Approach to Achieving Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls in Nigeria.

Abstract

Nigeria is a member of the United Nations community, she had a global index score of 46 in the Sustainable Development Goals and ranked 36 in gender equality despite the fact that she was a signatory to policy document on gender equality of which convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is one. Her human development index is low with high level of poverty most especially among women. 50% of Nigerians between the ages of 15-64 are of working age and 45.5% of women are employed but their employment does not deliver them from poverty as almost twice as many women as men live below the poverty line. In line with her ratification of CEDAW, and the Beijing platform for action (BPFA) she signed the National Policy on Women in year 2000 and further review of the document produced the National Gender Policy in 2006. All of which are yet to deliver desired results in the achievement of gender equality and significant human development. It is recommended among others that the domestication of gender related documents, good funding and the involvement of all will bring about a big difference from the present level to a desired level of development

Keywords: Right-base, gender equality, empowerment, appraisal