ABSTRACT
The protection and promotion of human rights for women and children are fundamental to societal development, yet their effective implementation remains a significant challenge in Nigeria. To fully address the needs of these vulnerable groups, it is crucial to establish comprehensive service programs backed by well-structured policies, legislation, and frameworks. This study appraises the legal framework for women's and children's rights in Nigeria, identifying inadequacies in existing laws, examining the lingering effects of outdated legislation, exploring the potential benefits of recent legal developments, and uncovering obstacles hindering the implementation of a functional human rights protection system for these groups. This study employs the doctrinal methodology to comprehensively review relevant primary and secondary sources of law. Primary sources include the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), the Child Rights Act 2003, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, and international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). It also examines secondary sources such as scholarly books, journals, and articles. This method aims to examine the limitations of existing laws in safeguarding the rights of women and children, promoting comprehensive protection, and ensuring adequate support and care. The study reveals that failure to harmonize existing laws often results in the marginalization and discrimination of women and children. The laws are not sufficiently implemented to address the need for comprehensive protection, recognition of women's and children's rights as fundamental, provision of support services, and community-based interventions. The identified deficiencies in the existing legal framework emphasize the urgency for reform to protect individual rights and provide comprehensive care and protection for women and children. Although recent legislative developments provide a pathway for positive change, their realization requires concentrated efforts in addressing identified impediments. There is also a need for alignment with international standards through adequate resource allocation, awareness campaigns to combat cultural barriers and discrimination, and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders. These efforts are crucial to establishing an effective and accessible system for protecting the rights of women and children in Nigeria.
