Lack of policy implementation holds back women’s land rights in Africa

Words by Emmanuel Sulle

For many African countries, the lack of proper implementation of existing policies, laws and programmes hold back women’s rights to access, use, control, and own land. Speaking to members of parliament during the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Learning Exchange in Kigali, Rwanda, it was argued that the high levels of illiteracy among their rural communities make especially women unaware of the existing policies and laws — this limits them from demanding their rights. The ECOWAS members of parliament (MPs) were in Rwanda to learn from Rwandan MPs at the courtesy of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Oxfam.

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Contact Bernard.Moseti@oxfam.org