Ethno-Cultural Boundaries to Women and Children Rights in Nyankpa Society

The modem Eurocentric concepts of human rights often clash with traditional understanding of human rights in Africa. The conflict of these systems is glaring visible in the descriptions of women and children rights. This paper examines the idea of women and children rights, with the focus on Nyankpa people of Panda area of Nasarawa State. Considering this perspective, we look the difference in the conception of women and children rights in Nyankpa society and the modem European models. The research adopts an ecletic approach namely analytical and qualitative approaches. The study showed that the European conception of “Rights” is totally different from Nyankpa conception of “Rights”. What the European will describe as infringement on a women or Child’s Rights, may still be, by the Nyankpa traditional standards, within the permissible socio-cultural practice of the society. Thus, this paper, argued strongly, against the uncritical use of European concepts and their associated standards, for the understanding of Africa’s traditions.