2010 VOF week 3

The main challenge facing women's rights advocates from creating change in power relations between women and men is partriarchy. This is responsible for harmful and discriminatory traditional practices against women. The low representation of women in decision making processes is as a result of partriarchy.

In most of the communities in the Niger Delta, women do not participate in community meetings; they are excluded from the processes of taking decisions in the community. In Ubarama community in Ahoada West local government area in Rivers state, The community assembly meets every friday, but you can only find men and male youths. there are no women in those meetings. Women's leadership are not recognized. women's opinions are not appreciated. Their contributions to community development are not recognized.

They are few female councilors. they are no female local government chairpersons. female candidates are not supported during elections. the members of community development communities are all male. despite the fact that Nigeria is signatory to international human rights documents such as CEDAW the reperesntation of women in governance processes remain very insignificant. Nigeria is yet to domesticate CEDAw