International Land Coalition

Women's Access

ILC Intitiatives

Current Events
Events Archive

Useful Links

Programmes

Photo Gallery

Dgroup

Why promote women’s access to and control over land?

The percentage of land owned by women is disproportionately small compared with their crucial contribution to agriculture and especially the food security of households and communities. Frequently women access land through male relatives only, and not in their own right. The gender differences in property rights present in many contexts hinder the sustainable management of natural resources, and thus, sustainable development.

There are two key arguments for promoting women’s access to land:

1. Women’s rights as human rights are violated:
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that human rights apply equally to all, regardless of sex, yet women around the world still find themselves being disproportionately affected by discrimination and a violation of their rights which keeps them trapped in poverty. Women have fewer benefits and protections under legal systems than men and they are excluded from decision-making. Women lack control of financial resources, suffer under greater time burdens, social isolation, and threats or acts of violence.

2. Women’s key role in ensuring food security and sustainable natural resource management is not sufficiently recognised:
women are primary producers of food, cultivating between 60 and 80 per cent of the food in most developing countries, and are caretakers of household food security. Studies have found that agricultural productivity increases when women are given the same inputs as men. Women’s lack of access to and control over land is a key factor contributing to their poverty, with devastating results for households and communities, and thus needs to be addressed if poverty and hunger are to be reduced.

What can be done?

Women’s access to and control over resources is shaped by complex systems of common and civil law and customary and religious laws and practices. International law and conventions such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women) may protect women’s human rights in signatory states, yet may be at odds with other parts of national legislation, the actual enforcement of legislation, or local practices. Furthermore, the practise and perception of a woman’s position in the household, family and community affects to what extent women can exercise their rights.

The ability to access land and to claim, use and defend rights to natural resources is contingent on processes of empowerment. Women face additional hurdles to empowerment, ranging from their status within household and community to discriminatory customary or statutory laws.

Latin America platform on women's access to Land:
ILC regional work is mostly focused on three main areas: land literacy, empowerment and capacity building, research and advocacy. The regional component is leaded by NITLAPAN - Nicaragua, ILC members
Download Brochure

It is thus extremely important to address the specific hurdles faced by women in becoming empowered, politically and legally as well as economically, and allow them to participate in society on an equal footing. Women are the primary agents to change their lives, but need support to build their societal status and transforming gender roles.

A frequent criticism of efforts for women’s empowerment and gender equality is that “western feminism” is a form of cultural imperialism lacking respect for local tradition and culture. However, inequalities between the sexes need to be challenged - just as inequalities of wealth are - as an obstacle to people-centred development.