Pancasila and Law Review
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2025)

Bridging Norms and Practice: Structural Barriers to Women’s Protection from Sexual Violence in Nigeria

Muhammad jibril, Abubakar (Unknown)
Saidy Jeng, Lamin (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Feb 2026

Abstract

Sexual violence persists in Nigeria despite ratification of major human rights treaties and enactment of domestic legislation such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act. This study assesses whether Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks provide effective protection for women, focusing on constitutional dualism, uneven state implementation, socio-cultural resistance, and under-resourced enforcement bodies. Using a qualitative normative legal analysis, it examines treaty domestication, limitations in enforcement of the VAPP Act, and structural barriers faced by survivors, drawing comparative insight from South Africa’s monist constitutional model. The study finds that fragmented criminal regimes and institutional weaknesses undermine compliance with international obligations and argues for a monist constitutional approach, harmonized national standards, and strengthened institutional capacity to align domestic practice with human rights commitments.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

plr

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

The Journal of Pancasila and Law Review is published by the Faculty of Lampung, Universitas Lampung as a platform of communication and legal science development. The scope of the Journal of Pancasila and Law Review is the result research or conceptual study of the law, values and meanings contained ...