Secure Land Rights: Enhancing Women's and Girl's Social Protection

The discussion was hosted by LANDESA * Rural Development Institute, 

International Land Coalition.

The panel consisted of:

Beth Roberts – Program Manager, Center for Women’s Land Rights, Landesa, USA

Josephine Mong’are – Chairperson, Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya (FIDA, Kenya)

Monica Mhoja – Tanzania Program Director, Landesa, USA

Nzira de Deus – Director, Forum Mulher, Mozambique

Ana Paul Tuacale – President, National Union of Peasants (UNAC, Mozambique)

Katia Araujo - Director of Advocacy, Landesa, USA, Moderator

The panel debate evolved around the following question: what innovative approaches have civil society organizations implemented to increase women’s access to resources, and how are these approaches contributing to the social protection of women and girls who experience the most deprivation and vulnerability?

A short summary of the panelist’s answers:

-       Josephine Mong’are: land is very important. It is important to understand how the patriarchal traditional system with tribes and elder counsels work in order to achieve change. To work with them, rather than fight them. Kenya now has laws that say that women can inherit land.

-       Monica Mhoja: In Tanzania the land rights are the same for men and women; they have equal rights to control, use and access land. However, they are underrepresented in matters that concern them, and affirmative action calls for a minimum of women in the local land counsels in the villages. The challenge is that the women might be elected, but still stay silent. They are working to push the women’s confidence and teach them that their voices can be heard. They encourage women to acquire their own land through Village Community Banks (VICOBA) and increase women participation in land governing.  

-       Nzira de Deus and Ana Paul Tuacale: In Mozambique 80% of those who produce food are rural women. Many of these are illiterate. It is important to inform women of their rights to own land, and the organization disseminates information in local languages in the communities. Mozambique has a good land policy, but it’s not well implemented. They demand a 50/50 participation of men and women in the commission on natural resources in local areas.

-       Beth Roberts: Land gives power and identity. Women’s right to own land is a fundamental right, it will empower and enable them and create more equality as they will have a voice and participation in the economy. The voices of rural women are crucial in decision making but the women are not called to the table. Landesa is trying to bridge the gap by creating forums where these conversations can happen. https://www.landesa.org/