Polygamy Versus Equality Rights: Is Polyandry a Solution?

4 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2016

See all articles by Nqobizwe Ngema

Nqobizwe Ngema

University of Zululand - Department of Public Law

Date Written: July 15, 2016

Abstract

The right to Equality has been accepted as one of the principles of jus cogens since the Second World War and it is protected in numerous international and regional human rights instruments. The Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Woman (CEDAW) is a comprehensive document that serves as the international Bill of Rights for women and it prohibits polygamy. This paper examines whether the unusual but also customary practice of polyandry would serve as a solution to elevating the status of women to be on par with that of men, whether they are polygamists or not. This paper concludes by arguing that polyandry cannot solve the problem of inequalities that are confronted by women because even in polyandrous societies there is male domination that is detrimental to the equality rights of women.

Keywords: Polygamy, Polyandry, discrimination

Suggested Citation

Ngema, Nqobizwe, Polygamy Versus Equality Rights: Is Polyandry a Solution? (July 15, 2016). OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 09, No. 07, pp. 11-14, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2876238

Nqobizwe Ngema (Contact Author)

University of Zululand - Department of Public Law ( email )

Mhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa

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