CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING WOMEN IN NIGERIA VIS A VIS BEIJING AT TWENTY-FIVE

Abstract

The  United  Nations  Fourth  World  Conference  on  Women  in  Beijing  was  held  to  ensure  the  full  implementation  of the  human  rights  of  women  as  an  inalienable,  integral  and  indivisible  part  of  all  human  rights  and  fundamental freedoms and to advance the goals ofequality, development and peace for all women everywhere. Nigerian women are  deprived  these  anchor  of  security,  stability,  values  and  development.  Women  who  account  almost  half  of  the entire population generally lagged behind in all aspects of life, economically, socially, politically and intellectually. Women  are  on  the  lowest  rung  of  poverty  condition,  they  neither  participate  in  forming  nor  administering  the government. Religion and tradition are used as instrument of women operation in Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to achieve full observance of the equal rights of women and elimination of the de jure and de facto discrimination. The approach to be adopted will be critical; analytical, comparative and expository. The author finds that, the lives of Nigeriansare yet to attain a commensurate level of improvement. Women rank lower than men in all indices of development  in  the  country.  The  author  recommends  socio-economic  and  political  restructuring  to  eradicate poverty, stop distinction and achieve gender equality.