women's land rights

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the legal and customary rights of women to own, inherit, use, lease, and transfer land and agricultural property on equal terms with men, recognised as essential for women's economic security, food security, and ability to invest in their livelihoods and families; in many developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, women perform the majority of agricultural labour while being systematically denied land rights through discriminatory customary law, unequal inheritance systems, and lack of legal title; insecure land rights make women more vulnerable to displacement, domestic violence, and poverty when relationships break down; research demonstrates that securing women's land rights increases agricultural productivity, improves child nutrition, and reduces vulnerability to food insecurity; women's land rights are addressed in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)