International Women’s Day Webinar Recap: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Implementation
Authored by: Beatrice Quaye
This past Saturday, in celebration of International Women’s Day, FALAS Nigeria, in collaboration with Legal Africa, hosted a thought-provoking webinar under the powerful theme:
“SIGNED, SEALED, BUT NOT DELIVERED: THE FIGHT FOR WOMEN’S LEGAL RIGHTS.”
The event brought together distinguished speakers, including Ngozi Nwabueze, Oluyemi Orija, Kate Okoh-Kpina, and Dorothy Esinam Tettey, who shared insights on the persistent gap between legal frameworks and actual enforcement of women’s rights across Africa.
The Nigerian Perspective: Strong Laws, Weak Implementation
The discussion highlighted that while Nigeria has legal provisions supporting gender equality—including the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—implementation remains a major hurdle. Cultural biases, lack of enforcement, and resistance even from fellow women in leadership continue to hinder progress.
A striking issue raised was that women often do not support each other in leadership and career advancement, creating additional barriers to gender equity. The case of Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti was cited as a stark example of the challenges women face when seeking leadership positions in Nigeria.
Furthermore, professional inequities remain a major concern in the legal field:
- Only 22% of senior partners in African law firms are women (African Women in Law Report, 2024).
- Female lawyers in Nigeria earn 30% less than their male counterparts for the same roles (Nigerian Bar Association, 2023).
- Women constitute just 12% of judges in Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court (Afrobarometer).
Ghana’s Progress: Laws Exist, But the Struggle Continues
From the Ghanaian perspective, some progress has been made through laws like the Domestic Violence Act and institutions such as DOVVSU (Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit). However, systemic challenges remain, including stereotypes that certain areas of law are “a man’s world.”
One key takeaway was that women themselves contribute to the problem. Female judges and lawyers were noted as being among those who make fellow women feel inadequate in the legal space, highlighting the need for solidarity and mentorship.
A Call to Action: Implementing Women’s Rights Beyond Paper
While constitutions and legal frameworks guarantee women’s rights—such as the right to live without discrimination, own property, and work without bias—the reality is that these rights are still out of reach for many.
The webinar ended with a strong call for:
- Women Supporting Women – Women must stand together, mentor each other, and create opportunities for growth.
- Education & Awareness – Many women are unaware of their rights, making advocacy and legal literacy essential.
- Accountability in Implementation – Governments, institutions, and individuals must move beyond signing laws to ensuring they are enforced effectively.
This discussion is only the beginning. As we reflect on this year’s International Women’s Day, the message is clear: women’s legal rights should not only be signed and sealed—they must be delivered.
