THE RIGHT OF THE FEMALE CHILD TO FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION: NIGERIA AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is to examine the right of the female child to freedom from discrimination in Nigeria. This right is founded on the equality before the law which is one of the cardinal principles of the rule of law as propounded by Prof. A. V. Dicey. The equality postulates equal protection of all persons by the laws of the land regardless of sex, race, religion, colour, language, physical disability, circumstances of one’s birth or other considerations. The idea of legal equality was recognized in 1948 by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Similarly, it is among the couple of rights constitutionally guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. Doctrinal method of research, comprising both primary and secondary sources, was solely adopted in the course of this study. The primary sources include the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and other relevant laws. The secondary sources include books and articles sourced from the Library, in addition to the internet sources. The study gathered that gender inequality has become the worst of all the cases on discrimination in Nigeria especially in the context of succession rights. It is more worrisome that some aspects of discrimination are guaranteed by the Constitution under the derogatory provisions. That is why the implication of the derogatory provisions on the rights of the female child in Nigeria was examined in this work. The paper ends with a clarion call for deliberate efforts to uphold freedom, equality and justice as the only prerequisite for the peaceful coexistence and growth of our nation.