Like Madam Karr, women across Liberia have a tenuous hold on their land. Their situation underscores the urgency of land reform in Liberia, which has been led by the Liberian Land Commission, established in 2009.
Land Rights for Women Crucial for African Development
Although both women and men have rights to land under statutory and customary tenure, the rights of women and men differ in origin, duration and scope, and are influenced by the legal rules and social norms related to marriage and other family relationships. As a result, women's rights to land and other property are often less secure than those of men.
Video
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8 April 2013
Women, Land, and Opportunity in Africa
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- Focus on Land in Africa
- Publication Date:
In many African countries, women do 60-80% of the farming, but the vast majority do not own or have direct access to or control over land. Women who ... see more »
Photo Essay
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Protecting Women's Land Rights in Liberia
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When Madam Mawa Karr was widowed at age 27, she had six children and was nine months pregnant with her seventh child. But she had land, a deed to the land, and a house. That gave her more security ... see more »
Documents
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9 January 2015
The Gender Implications of Joint Land Titling in Ethiopia
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- Focus on Land in Africa
- Publication Date:
Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in sub-Sahara Africa, with a population of 82.9 million, and the eighth largest country by area, occupying ... see more »
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9 January 2015
Women, Inheritance and Islam in Mali
- Publisher:
- Focus on Land in Africa
- Publication Date:
Forty-eight percent of Malian women are engaged in agriculture, yet the vast majority may only access land to which men hold the primary rights. ... see more »
InFocus
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Africa's celebration of a "Year of Agriculture and Food Security" is also a call to boost agricultural development. One in four people in sub-Saharan Africa are undernourished ... Read more »
