Even though they make up half of population, women and girls have endured discrimination in most societies for thousands of years. In the past, women were treated as the property of their husbands or fathers. They were considered chattels, and were owned. They couldn’t own land or properties, they couldn’t vote, or go to school, and were subject to beatings and abuse and could do nothing about it. Until 2018, women in Saudi Arabia were not permitted to drive, and despite freedom of movement being a human right, women in Saudi Arabia cannot travel outside their country without permission from from their male guardian till date.
There are different international, regional and domestic instruments that provided for the safeguarding of human rights. These documents all clearly provide that human rights are to be enjoyed by every human being irrespective of their sex, etc, yet it appears throughout history that women have been stripped of the title of “human” as they don’t enjoy these rights. This gender discomfort led to the advocacy by women for their rights. It has sponsored various women’s rights movements all geared towards the protection of women and girls and their rights.
This paper attempts to define human rights and it aligns with the definitions given by scholars, jurists and human rights treaties. It further discusses the origins of human rights, its evolution and development over the years, from the ancient city of Cyrus till modern day international documents. It also highlights the factors that contributed to the women’s rights movement, and the background to the development of women’s rights documents. It draws a conclusion by showing the relationship between women’s rights and human rights.
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About the Author
Olivia Uzoma Ezekwe is a Lawyer, Writer and Communication Specialist with expertise in gender, governance, human rights, and development communication. She combines her strong legal background with strategic communication skills to produce rights-based analysis, public-facing content, and advocacy-driven storytelling.
Her work focuses on legal research, policy interpretation, and social development communication, using writing, digital media, and narrative strategy to amplify marginalized voices and strengthen public understanding of justice, equity, and accountability. She creates research-informed content that supports dialogue on women’s rights, community protection, and inclusive governance.
With experience across law, development, and communication, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to shaping narratives, supporting evidence-based advocacy, and advancing people-centred social change.