THE BEIJING CONFERENCE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON GENDER EQUALITY
ABSTRACT
Gender equality is one of the major problem that is affecting people in the society, it affect everybody in one way of the other. The study identified the level of gender equality in Makurdi local government Area, Benue State. The objective of the study is to explain the causes of gender equality in Makurdi. To explain the roles and status of women in Makurdi local government area, Benue State. To determine or explain how gender equality hinder or affect the Social economic and political development of people in Makurdi. Data was collected from one source which is the primary through the use of questionnaire: Sample from the research is one hundred and twenty (120) people, which was gotten through random technique. Table 10 from the findings indicates that the status and roles of women in Makurdi local government Area of Benue State have considerately change after the Beijing conference, it shows that as much as 95(79.1%) respondents agreed that formal education for women in Benue State have increased over the years and teenage marriage declined. The study recommends that, there should exist a mutual relationship and inter-networking projects between local women groups, N.G.O’S and government agencies so that more women can be involved in the efforts towards achieving women empowerment.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Background to the study
The history of women equality in Nigeria can be traced to pre-colonial, colonial and post colonial to the present dispensation, globally, the struggle of gender equality occurred for over a long period of time by leading countries such as the United States of America, France and Britain (ojiakolor and Nwachukwu, 1998). Early efforts were made at the 4th world conference on women held in Beijing, china, between 4th _15th September, 1995 in order to adopt a women’s right charter which would allow women to compete favorably with their male counterparts and ensure global gender equality.
Despites the provision in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, ethnic group and state, it has been duly observed that the male folk in Nigeria have continued to treat women as inferior and subordinate. Women have been grossly marginalized in organizations and public offices where leadership positions are reserved only for men, in most societies, the place of women no matter how educated they are believed to be, the kitchen. Toye olori, (2005).
Going by statistics in Benue state, Angya (2003) holds that women have continued to be underrepresented in higher post in the civil service, judiciary executive and legislative arms of the government at the detriment of woman, although they have immensely contributed towards the nations socioeconomic development at least, women have remained the unheard voice, disempowered by un even distribution in the allocation of power, wealth and status. Women in Makurdi area of Benue state have been stratified, manipulated, relegated and marginalized against the back drop of a century were they represent a potent force in agricultural and economic production and also constituting an unprecedented percentage of global population.
