Rural women in many developing and transitional countries are among those with no or very insecure rights to land. Increasing numbers of women in rural areas bear primary responsibility for agricultural production. Studies by both RDI and others underline the importance of women?s secure access to land, with its relationship to gains in agricultural productivity, family welfare (particularly child nutrition), and women?s empowerment.
Many developing and transitional countries have, in the past several decades, adopted legislation formally giving women equal, or more equal, rights to land and attempted to elevate women?s status within the household. Often, however, this legislation has not been successful in achieving its stated goals. RDI?s research on these issues has shown that one of the reasons recently adopted written laws have had limited effect on women?s rights and access to land has been the continued prevalence of customary law in governing gender-related cultural norms and intra-household affairs. Written laws may prove ineffective due to drafters? failure to consider customary law. Indeed, in some cases customary law may offer greater protection of women?s rights and access to land than new legal systems that formalize land rights, even when these systems attempt to reflect women?s rights and needs.
Understanding the effects of laws?both written and customary?regarding land tenure and intra-household division of rights and responsibilities for women is critical in formulating effective policy measures to address women?s secure access to land.
RDI has analyzed and provided recommendations on women?s access to and rights to land in India, China, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, & Uganda.
For more information on RDI?s Women and Land program,
When you give to RDI you make a great investment. Our 36 years of work in 40 countries has helped put secure land rights in the hands of well over 100 million poor farm families worldwide?more than 400 million people. View our accomplishments. So whatever you give, whether $5 or $500,000, your gift will have great leverage. In fact, each past dollar contributed to RDI has resulted, on average, in nine poor families gaining ownership or owner-like rights to land.
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Contact: Barbara Sacerdote
Phone: 1-800-375-4052
Email:
[email protected] What RDI does is so important to the future of our world. If we want growth and stability on our planet, and both are necessary for our future success, we need to insure that the rural poor have a secure and profitable relationship with the land...
There are few tasks of higher significance in the world today.
Ambassador Thomas Pickering
contact Robin Nielson at
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