Women's Land Rights

Secure land rights for women and girls is linked to increased women’s leadership and autonomy, enhanced economic opportunities, better security, safety and standing in society.
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Agendas

Less than 15% of the world's landowners are women.

When they do own land, it’s usually of poorer quality and on smaller plots. Yet according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, if women and men had the same access to resources, including land, it is estimated that agricultural yields would rise by almost a third, resulting in potentially 150 million fewer hungry people in the world.

The rural women, working as farmers, wage earners, and entrepreneurs, whom comprise no less than a quarter of the world’s population.

Doing so would help build thriving and resilient households and communities with improved incomes, better child nutrition, greater educational attainment for girls and more sustainable use of natural resources.

We must begin with rebalancing power in favour of women.

In many parts of the world, traditional norms continue to prevent women from participating in the same decision-making spaces as men. One of these rights includes the right to own, use, and make decisions on their land on equal terms with men.

Although 164 countries legally recognize this globally, only 52 countries guarantee these rights in practice.

Governments must do better. They must invest in and ensure equal representation and leadership of rural and Indigenous women in land governance, management, restoration, and administration structures so they can share their experiences and push for their demands.

From local to global, women-led organisations in ILC are actively engaged in leadership training and mentoring, and joining forces to build genuine and impactful alliances to ensure that no woman is left behind.

How ILC members are working together on Women's land rights

( PDF 3.2 MB )

Women fight for land rights

Explore our women-led people's organisations
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Speaking up in Peru

“Women are no longer going to be like in the past, women are going to be equal to men, or perhaps even more so." - Maribel Barrientos Najarro, Community Treasurer, Santa Rosa de Huancapuquio

Meet Maribel

My husband's land

When Justine Epse Bel lost her husband, she also lost her land. As a woman, she had no inheritance rights over the land she called home. Like her, many other women - unmarried or widowed - in the village of Log-dikit in Cameroon

Meet Justine

Freedom, land and a home to call her own

Parvati Luhar tells us her story as part of the work of NLC Nepal

Meet Parvati

Global & Regional Initiatives

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ALTERNATIVE REPORTING

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Beijing+25

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FEMINIST LAND PLATFORM

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Iniciativa Mujer Rural y Derecho a la Tierra

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WOMEN'S LAND RIGHTS IN AFRICA

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ILC

#Latin America & the Caribbean #Community Land Rights #Indigenous Peoples #3. Diverse tenure systems #5. Secure territorial rights for indigenous peoples #Nicaragua #CADPI

Photo Essay

A Common Right in Nicaragua

16 March 2016

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ILC

#Latin America & the Caribbean #Women's Land Rights #Indigenous Peoples #Indigenous peoples #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #5. Secure territorial rights for indigenous peoples #Peru #Women's Land Rights #SER

Photo Essay

Speaking up in Peru

14 October 2021

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ILC Learning Hub

#Africa #GROOTS Kenya #Youth #Women's Land Rights #Establishment and strengthening of local institutions #NKUZI #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #WE EFFECT #OXFAM #Gender justice #Gender Justice

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ILC Asia

#Climate change #Asia #Women's Land Rights #Bangladesh #1. Secure tenure rights #Maldives #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #India #Advocacy

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ILC

#Africa #National partnerships #Youth #Women's Land Rights #Indigenous Peoples #Customary tenure #Indigenous peoples #1. Secure tenure rights #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #5. Secure territorial rights for indigenous peoples #Cameroon #Women's Land Rights

Photo Essay

My Husband's Land

17 December 2021

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ILC Asia

#Climate change #Asia #Women's Land Rights #Bangladesh #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #6. Locally managed ecosystems

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ILC Learning Hub

#Global #Land monitoring, indicators and alternative reporting #Legal assistance, legal empowerment and access to justice #Advocacy & campaigning #Mapping and land registration #Project design and implementation support #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #Use of media and communication #IFAD #CDS - COLOMBIA #SER #NLRF #RMI #CINEP #COLARP #CSRC #UCOBAC #APDH #TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL #WILDAF #Gender Justice

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ILC Learning Hub

#Research #Women's Land Rights #Research and training #Women's Land Rights #4. Equal Land Rights for Women

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ILC Learning Hub

#Gender Justice #Africa #Women's Land Rights #Women's Land Rights #Uganda #Advocacy & campaigning #Research and training #1. Secure tenure rights #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #Land policy and multi-stakeholder dialogue #Advocacy #UCOBAC

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ILC Learning Hub

#Asia #Gender Justice #National partnerships #Women's Land Rights #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #Philippines

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ILC Learning Hub

#Thailand #Asia #Women's Land Rights #Indigenous Peoples #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #5. Secure territorial rights for indigenous peoples #AIPP #Member news

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ILC Learning Hub

#Global #2. Strong small-scale farming systems #Family Farming #Women's Land Rights #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #Research

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ILC Learning Hub

#Gender Justice #Africa #Women's Land Rights #Women's Land Rights #Uganda #Advocacy & campaigning #Research and training #1. Secure tenure rights #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #Land policy and multi-stakeholder dialogue #Advocacy #UCOBAC

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ILC Learning Hub

#KAPAEENG #ALRD #ARBAN #LANDESA #NU #CDA #Women's Land Rights #Bangladesh #4. Equal Land Rights for Women #Asia #Briefs