-
United Nations And The Challenges Of Promoting Gender Equality
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 3 of 3
-
-
-
1.5 Theoretical Framework
Gender
equality (and women’s empowerment) has become one of the central themes
in global treaties, covenants and declarations principally due to the
understanding that it is a catalyst to clear-cut development strategies
which is targeted at poverty reduction, improved living standards, good
governance and profitably productive investments that are critical to
the creation of an enlarged capacity that provide men and women equal
opportunity and unrestrained access to decision-making and policy
implementation institutions and processes.
Essentially too, African
countries have demonstrated some measure of concern about human
development problems by initiating specific developmental goals and
strategies and accepting the critical role of gender equality or parity
in the developmental process. The African Charter on Human and People’s
Rights (ACHPR) adopted in 1981; the Women Right Protocol of 2003; the
ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the New Partnership
for African Development (NEPAD) adopted in 2001 are some of the
initiatives that are linked with the Millennium Development Goals and at
the same time, a testimony to commendable response in the African
continent.
Historically, women have comparatively been subjected to
marginalization, oppression and injustice both in public and private
life. Although the Millennium Declaration underscored the importance of
eliminating all forms and shades of discrimination, exploitation, social
harassment and gender bias as well as all situations that encourage the
infringement of the rights of women through government policies and
decisions, traditional and customary practices, cultural prejudices and
religious extremism, a lot more commitment and a pragmatic approach that
will translate into concrete actions are desirable around the globe,
particularly in Africa. Parity between boys and girls in primary school
enrolment has, for instance, been achieved in most regions of the world,
except sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. Gender disparity in
tertiary education is also still tilted in favour of men in Africa and
women access to paid employment that is secured in the light of income
and social importance is still very low when juxtaposed with that of men
in all sectors including agriculture. However, women’s access to
political decision-making, especially in terms of their share of seats
in the parliament has gradually and steadily increased globally.
Today,
it is instructive to note that due to the realization of the gap
created by the marginalization and social injustice against women and
the missing link in the developmental agenda by the limited access to
existing opportunities in virtually all sectors of the socio-political
and economic setting, women are gradually coming into public fore. A
plausible explanation for this trend and development is the thinking
that one of the indicators of the progress and development of any nation
is the position of women in that society (Akpoveta, 2008:191; Thompson
and Hickey 2012). It therefore follows that women are seen to represent a
tool for positive change, an end that depends on the level of access to
the opportunity for actualizing their potentials and talents.
1.6 Research Methodology
The
research adopted the secondary source of data. These include textbooks,
Journals, Magazines, Academic papers, internet and other scholarly
materials on the problem of study. This information was obtained from
the University main library and other libraries outside the University.
1.7 Method Of Data Analysis
The
mode of data analysis was qualitative which is largely descriptive and
analytical. Descriptive analysis is an interpretative analysis based on
data collection. As regards data analysis, a combination of simple
descriptive – analytical and deductive methods was mainly employed.
Inferences were drawn from writings and commentaries of other scholars.
The method however was premised on the realist theory.
Data were
largely sourced through secondary source including textbook, journals,
magazines, academic papers, internet and other scholarly materials on
the problem of study.
1.8 Scope And Limitation Of The Study
The
research covered United Nations and the challenges of promoting gender
equality in Nigeria. Principally, the study encountered two constraints;
they include the paucity of literate and problems of data collection.
The obvious dearth of scholarly wirings on the subject matter imposed
certain limitations on the conduct of this study.
These impediments
notwithstanding, we are able to make do with what were readily available
and accessible, and we ensured optimal systematization of analyse for
the interest of objectivity. Thus the work was accomplished within the
best possible standards.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
Page 3 of 3
-
