GENDER AND ARMED CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA: EXAMINING ITS IMPACT ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Abstract

Armed conflict in Nigeria has evolved into one of the most persistent threats to human security, but its consequences fall unevenly across gender lines. Women and girls, already situated within a social context shaped by inequality, bear unique and often disproportionate harms during periods of violence. This article interrogated the intersection between gender and armed conflict in Nigeria, offering a clear conceptual foundation before examining the country’s complex conflict landscape from insurgency in the Northeast to communal clashes, banditry, and militancy in other regions. It explored how these conflicts undermine fundamental rights of women and girls, including the rights to life, dignity, education, health, personal liberty, and freedom from sexual and gender-based violence. The paper also evaluated the adequacy of existing legal and institutional frameworks, domestic, regional, and international that are designed to protect women and children in conflict situations. The doctrinal methodology style was utilized in carrying out this research. By providing a comparative outlook with the United Kingdom and South Africa, the work highlights practical models for prevention, protection, and reintegration that Nigeria can adopt or work with. Through this multidisciplinary analysis, the article demonstrates that gender-sensitive responses to conflict are not only legal and moral obligations but also essential for peace-building and national stability. It concluded with forward-looking recommendations aimed at reforming protection mechanisms, improving accountability for violations, and enhancing Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of women and girls during armed conflict.