Women’s Rights to Land, Property and Housing

Citation:

Farha, Leilani. 2000. “Women’s Rights to Land, Property and Housing.” Forced Migration Review 7: 23–6.

Author: Leilani Farha

Abstract:

For many women, rights to land, property and housing are essential to their livelihood and survival, particularly in the aftermath of war and conflict. However, many women in countries across the world are prohibited from owning or inheriting land from husbands who have died in the conflict. They are therefore left, stranded, without means of subsistence or ways of providing for their families. This short article explores the Kigali Conference that took place in Kigali, Rwanda in the aftermath of the Rwandan conflict. The conference was dedicated exclusively to this issue which has been rarely addressed. The article is a brief summary of the objectives of the Conference, the obstacles facing women in their quest to own property, stories of success in which women have been able to obtain rights to land and property, and where to go from here in continuing to further those objectives.

Topics: Armed Conflict, Gender, Women, International Organizations, Livelihoods, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Rights, Land Rights, Property Rights, Women's Rights

Year: 2000

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