This Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) report provides an unprecedented assessment of the status of developing countries’ legal frameworks regarding women’s community land rights, and whether states are meeting their obligations under national and international laws. It also provides a baseline with which to measure global progress and report against the Sustainable Development Goals related to women’s rights. Critically, the report reveals that governments are not providing equal rights and protections to indigenous and rural women and are failing to meet their international commitments to do so. The findings also show that secure community land rights and the legal advancement of women often go hand in hand. Laws that protect women’s rights to community forests are more likely to safeguard the forest ownership rights of entire communities.
Authors: Stephanie Keene and Chloe Ginsburg
Source: Rights and Resources Initiative
