AN ANALYSIS OF THE INCIDENCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MARRIAGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This research shows a comprehensive analysis of domestic violence carried out by examining the laws protecting women in marriages from the various types of domestic violence and the reason behind its implementation. It examined the different forms of manifestation of violence against women in marriage in Nigeria, the causes of domestic violence against women in marriage and it assesses the effectiveness of the existing legal framework on violence against women in marriage in Nigeria. It has been discovered that Nigeria does not have any specific law protecting women against domestic violence stricto senso but it has the Violence Against Persons Prohibitions Act which prohibits female genital mutilation, forceful ejection of the woman from home, harmful widowhood activities or practices. It also prohibits abandonment of spouse and children. This law is in force in Abuja. Provisions are also made for the protection of women in the Nigerian constitution, the Criminal Code, and the Penal Code which attempts to protect the women but on the contrary it encourages domestic violence for example; wife beating, spousal rape, etc giving the men protection from any action being brought against them when they perpetrate acts that constitute domestic violence. It has also been discovered that the laws that seems to protect the women is gender biased even in sanctions it accrues to persons who carry out such acts. This study has shown that there is also the issue of the implementation of international laws in which Nigeria is signatory to, for example; CEDAW, this is an international convention of which its sole purpose is to protect human rights of women but Nigeria has not implemented it into their domestic laws. This study recommends the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015 in all 36 states in Nigeria for it to serve its purpose efficiently and also the implementation of international laws into Nigeria�s domestic laws and also the impact of domestic violence against women in marriages should be given adequate publicity.

Identifiers

Resource ID

urn:uuid:133aeb68-e504-4dc1-81aa-4b9632a5408b