Women’s Land’s Rights to take center at desertification conference

By Christopher Bendana

Women affected by climate change and other environmental challenges will present their call for increased access to land during the United Nations General Assembly on Desertification and Drought today.

In a press statement today, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) said desertification and drought were affecting women and girls worse. 

It added that when lands degrade and water gets scarce, women are affected more, falling deep into poverty and hunger.

The statement said the challenges were compounded by inequality in land ownership with women owning only 1/5 of land worldwide despite producing much of the food.

Ibrahim Thiaw, the UNCCD executive secretary, said, “Investing in women’s equal access to land is not just an act of justice. It is an investment in our future, a commitment to the prosperity of our planet. It is an affirmation that we value not only the land beneath our feet but the hands that work it.”  

This year’s theme is ‘Her Land. Her Rights.

Sefolooza Nakiito, 63, a widow, and farmer engaged in regenerative agriculture in Kanyogoga, Kassanda district in central Uganda says lack of water is affected her vegetable garden.

“I need an irrigation system, at least a borehole,” he says

Several countries including Uganda have taken initiatives including legislation to increase women’s access to land.

Women activists regard the spousal consent clause in the Land Act as a game changer in closing the gap in land access.

Support independent science journalism for development by contact the editor;cbendana@sciencenowmag.com