Nigerian lawmakers voted down a women equality bill citing the Bible and Sharia law
16.03.16
(Gender-based discrimination / Tradition, Culture, Religion)
Nigerian lawmakers on Tuesday, voted against a gender and equal opportunities bill. The bill, which did not pass a second reading, was aimed at bridging the gap between the rights of men and women in Nigeria. It also sought to end questionable and unpleasant stereotypical practices that drive discrimination based on gender.
While the bill garnered support from some lawmakers, male and female, it ultimately failed to progress on the senate floor as a majority voted against it. Before voting, various senators who opposed the bill, spoke about the incompatibility of the bill with religious laws and beliefs.
As a whole, the bill focuses on eliminating discrimination based on gender in the fields of politics, education and employment. It also prohibits violence—domestic and sexual—against women.
