GRADUAL BUT STEADY PROGRESSION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED NATIONS DECLARATIONS ON WOMEN IN IKWERRE SOCIETY OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Women’s rights in Ikwerre traditional society had been severely misrepresented as a result of religion, culture and societal inhibitions that restricted their total development as human beings. The patriarchal nature of the Ikwerre society, enabled men to dominate, suppress and oppress women. This led to the various forms of discriminations and exclusion of women from education, inheritance of father’s patrimony, restriction from public speaking, and male preference syndrome. The spates of irrelevance shown to women in Ikwerre traditional society had them assume a second fiddle position to their male counterparts. This paper examines the traditional religious oppression and suppression of women and the socio-cultural factors that leads to such in Ikwerre society. The paper is anchored on the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its relation to women’s development. The Snail-Sense feminism theory by Akachi Ezigbo is reviewed. Using the descriptive and historical approach as well as oral interview. Findings are that most women in Ikwerre society are not fully aware of United Nations declarations that protect their rights, making the implementation of those declarations such as the CEDAW to be rather gradual than rapid. Through the gradual implementation of the CEDAW in Ikwerre society, the very conservative, patriarchal Ikwerre society is beginning to succumb to modernity allowing for women’s inclusion in areas they were excluded. That all socio-cultural and religious practices that negate women’s development are phasing out gradually. The paper concludes that all forms of discrimination against women in Ikwerre society should be gradually jettisoned in compliance to the snail-sense feminism theory of using the qualities of the snail which is gradual but dogged, tenacious, persevering and the ability to get round obstacle on its way to its destination. It advocates for a deliberate sensitization of UN declarations and rights through workshops and seminars for Ikwerre women.