Displaced women: focusing on their access to land Women and Land in the Muslim World Pathways to increase access to land for the realization of development, peace and human rights A Women and Land in the Muslim World Pathways to increase access to land for the realization of development, peace and human rights Table of Contents WOMEN AND LAND IN THE MUSLIM WORLD: Pathways to increase access to land for the realization of development, peace and human rights Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), 2018 An electronic version of this publication is available for download from the UN-Habitat website at TABLE OF CONTENTS www.unhabitat.org HS Number: HS/043/18E Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic system or degree of development. Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. viii The analysis, conclusions and recommendations of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Foreword ..................................................................................................................... ix the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, or its Member States. Executive summary ..................................................................................................... xi References to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by Introduction and key messages ............................................................................xi the United Nations, and a failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. What protects women’s access to land................................................................xii Excerpts from the text may be reproduced without authorisation, on condition that the source is indicated. How women can access land ..............................................................................xiii Cover: Ombretta Tempra Inheritance ...........................................................................................................xiii Marriage ...............................................................................................................xiii Sponsors: The Netherlands Government, the Swedish International Development Cooperation(SIDA), the Norwegian Government. Legal and administrative reforms and access to credit .....................................xiv Printing: Focus on displaced women .................................................................................xiv UNON, Publishing Services Section, Nairobi, ISO 14001:2004-certified. Summary of the recommendations ....................................................................xiv D1 No: 00151/250 Copies Terminology ................................................................................................................ xv Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 The status of women’s rights to land and tenure security in the Muslim world ......................................................................................................... 1 Objective of the report ......................................................................................... 2 Target audience ..................................................................................................... 4 Conceptual frameworks ....................................................................................... 4 Islamic land principles ........................................................................................ 5 The continuum of land rights ............................................................................. 5 Fit for purpose land administration ..................................................................... 6 The diversity of women ..................................................................................... 7 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 7 The Global Land Tool Network ............................................................................. 9 iii Women and land in the Muslim world Table of Contents 1. Why women need land: developing the advocacy arguments ....................... 11 2.5 Customary land law ...................................................................................... 36 Key message 1: Women’s access to land ensures social and economic What is customary law ..................................................................................... 36 development and food security .......................................................................... 11 THE DEBATE: gender equity and gender equality .............................................. 37 MALAYSIA ....................................................................................................... 39 Key message 2: Women’s access to land contributes to the realization of human rights ................................................................................................... 12 2.6 Working with multiple legal systems .......................................................... 41 Key message 3: Women’s access to land contributes to their Level of penetration ......................................................................................... 41 empowerment and participation ....................................................................... 12 Acceptance and enforcement .......................................................................... 42 Scale, timeframe and cost ................................................................................ 42 Key message 4: Women’s access to land can protect them from Intervening organization .................................................................................. 42 violence and health hazards ............................................................................... 13 Coordinating initiatives at country level ............................................................ 42 Key message 5: Access to land enables women to play a bigger role Clarifying the interface between the different legal systems ............................. 43 in the stabilization of societies in crisis and conflict ......................................... 14 Harmonize and align the different provisions within the same system ............... 43 Key message 6: Access to land means security, stability, independence Avoid undermining the statutory legal system .................................................. 43 and freedom for women ..................................................................................... 15 Capacity development ..................................................................................... 44 Recommendations ............................................................................................... 15 2.7 Access to justice and dispute-resolution mechanisms ................................. 44 2. What protects women’s access to land: building on the existing Comparative (dis)advantages of dispute-resolution systems .............................. 44 reference frameworks ........................................................................................ 17 “Family-friendly” dispute-resolution approaches .............................................. 46 Strengthening access to justice for women ...................................................... 46 2.1 International law and other instruments .................................................... 17 PALESTINE (GAZA) ........................................................................................... 47 Declarations and frameworks ........................................................................... 17 Capacity development: from judges to traditional leaders and women’s International treaties ........................................................................................ 19 associations ..................................................................................................... 48 Implementation and monitoring mechanisms ................................................... 21 2.8 Recommendations ......................................................................................... 49 Making the most of international frameworks .................................................. 22 Working with multiple legal systems: specific recommendations ....................... 50 2.2 Regional frameworks .................................................................................... 23 Increasing women’s access to justice and dispute-resolution mechanisms: Africa ............................................................................................................... 23 specific recommendations: ............................................................................... 51 Arab Region ..................................................................................................... 24 Asia ................................................................................................................