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An Opportunity to Remedy Inequality in Pakistan: Land Reform Needed to Bring Equality for Rural Women, People in Poverty
August 15, 2023 12:24PM EDT | Dispatches
Rural women and people living in poverty in Pakistan have long faced significant barriers to land ownership, perpetuating social inequality and economic disparities. However, recent efforts by the Sindh provincial government to provide land titles and housing funds to those affected by catastrophic floods are a step in the right direction towards addressing this issue.
The Devastating Floods of 2022
In July 2022, Pakistan experienced cataclysmic flooding due to unprecedented monsoon rainfall and glacial melting. This natural disaster resulted in the damage or destruction of over 2.1 million homes, the submergence of one-third of the country, the loss of 15,000 lives, and the displacement of 8 million people. The rural areas of Sindh province were particularly hard-hit, leaving many women in the region without homes, livelihoods, and food security.
An Opportunity for Redress
In an effort to rehabilitate those who suffered significant losses during the floods, the Sindh government has initiated a program to provide land titles and housing funds for people who were previously landless. Out of the 1.3 million eligible beneficiaries, almost one-third are women. If implemented transparently and effectively, this program has the potential to provide redress for harmful social practices that have long excluded women from land ownership.
The Importance of Land Ownership for Women
In low- and middle-income countries, women make up 43 percent of the agricultural labor force. However, their land ownership remains significantly lower than that of men. In Sindh, as well as the rest of rural Pakistan, land tenure and ownership patterns are key determinants of socio-economic status and are highly skewed. Currently, only 1.2 percent of Pakistani women own land.
Legal Obligations and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights obligates states to eliminate all forms of discrimination and ensure substantive equality. The Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights has specified governments’ responsibilities to protect land access, use, and control. In its 2022 general comment on land rights, the committee emphasized the importance of secure and equitable access to land for the enjoyment of various human rights, including the rights to adequate food and housing.
The Path to Meaningful and Sustainable Change
While the Sindh government’s program is a significant step forward, it is crucial to ensure that women recipients are full participants in all aspects of the new initiative. This includes involvement in decision-making processes and access to necessary support and resources. By empowering women and addressing gender inequalities in land ownership, Pakistan can pave the way for meaningful and sustainable change in the country.
Conclusion
The recent land reform efforts by the Sindh provincial government in Pakistan present a valuable opportunity to address social inequality and economic disparities. By providing land titles and housing funds to those affected by the devastating floods, particularly women and people living in poverty, the government has taken a significant step towards promoting gender equality and empowering marginalized communities. However, it is vital to ensure transparency, effective implementation, and genuine participation of women in all aspects of the program in order to achieve meaningful and sustainable change. Land ownership is a crucial aspect of socio-economic status and human rights, and by remedying the historical injustices faced by women and marginalized communities, Pakistan can create a more equal and just society.
<< photo by Sushil Nash >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.