From law to practice: A cross-country assessment of gender inequalities in rights to land

This study provides an up-to-date analysis of the status of women's land rights in the law and in practice globally using the most recent national statistics reported under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.a.1 and legal analyses of laws and policies in line with the SDG indicator 5.a.2. The study also analyses the discrepancy between women's formal rights to land and the reality on the ground and dives deeper in uncovering the factors that contribute to their effective attainment. The evidence shows that, globally, women continue to lag behind men in ownership and secure rights over land in both the law and practice. Joint land registration, participation in household and community decision-making in relation to land, equal inheritance and ensuring that the principle of non-discrimination and gender equality applies to customary law are all pivotal in advancing women's land rights. However, effective implementation mechanisms, including the allocation of adequate financial resources, are also needed.