Polygyny and its effects on women’s rights in rwanda: a case of Nyamagabe District

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Date
2014-11
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Publisher
Kampala International University. School of Law
Abstract
The study investigated the effect of polygyny on women’s rights in Nyarnagabe District Rwanda. The general objective of the study was to analyse the relationship between the practices of polygyny in Nyarnagabe District and its effects on women’s rights. The study population comprised of 151 respondents of Nyamagabe District especially in three Sectors both qualitative and quantitative in nature. The study used a questionnaire and interview method to collect data from the respondents, the study findings indicate that a number of women’s rights were violated including; harassment and denial of their rights, the study also found out that in Nyamagabe District even though it is not accepted in the National Constitution of Rwanda. Some of the causes of polygyny were that most men practice polygyny to look for more boys to protect the family and inherit their wealth; they also desired to have many children because during the 1994 genocide, many lives were lost. They said that polygyny was practiced so as to get male children, to have sexual satisfaction, enlightenment and self confidence for men who did not want to practice prostitution. It also found out that women can’t refuse to be second wives due to poverty. The study also found a significant relationship between polygyny and women’s rights. The study drew the following conclusions according to objectives; on the level of Polygyny among respondents in terms of causes, respondents showed that polygyny exist in Nyamagabe District because men need more children and prestige, leads them to polygyny which has effects on the women and their marriage in general. The level of effects on Women’s rights in Nyamagabe District in Rwanda, all aspects of women’s rights rated High on average. Findings showed that polygynous women’s rights are abused in general because they don’t have their owii rights for everything as women who stay in monogamy. The study also rejected the Null hypothesis and accepted the alternative. The recommendations are based on the objectives of the study as follows; The study recommended that to enhance women’s rights, Polygyny should be discouraged, improve on women’s rights abuses by sensitizing people about co existence and the government of Rwanda should take serious measures and fight against the practice of polygyny. For areas of further research, the researcher noted future researchers should investigate more on the other factors other which influence women’s rights like poverty and bad cultural practices.
Description
A dissertation Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degreeof Masters of Arts in Human Rights and Development of Kampala International University, Uganda
Keywords
Polygyny, women’s rights
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