Start Date : 5 May 08   End Date : 14 May 08 Location: Nairobi/New York

Gendering Land Tools: From Policy to Practice
5th May 2008, 18.15-19.45, Conference Room 2
Inequalities in access, management, and ownership of land and its resources still pose a serious challenge to women. This side event will bring together experts to promote women’s right to land and property ownership. Organized by: UN-HABITAT with Huairou Commission and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG).

Grassroots and Legal Empowerment
6 May 2008, 18.15-19.45, Library Auditorium
People sidelined by illegal land practices are best equipped to identify solutions to fair and just land delivery practices. This side event will raise the issue of secure land rights for the poor and discuss grassroots-driven practices. Empirical findings will be presented on land titling processes in Africa, followed by four viewpoints from pastoralists, small farmers, women and urban dwellers. Organized by: UN-HABITAT with Centre for Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), FIAN International, Hakijamii, Huairou Commission and Slum Dwellers International (SDI).

Book Launch of “Secure Land Rights for All”
6 May 2008, 19.45-21.00, West Terrace, followed by reception
The publication on Secure Land Rights for All demonstrates how secure land rights are particularly important in helping to reverse three types of phenomena: gender discrimination; social exclusion of vulnerable groups; and wider social and economic inequalities. It argues that policymakers should adopt and implement a continuum of land rights because, no single form of tenure can meet the different needs of all social groups. The publication show cases practical ways in which people’s land rights can be made more secure, while at the same time showing how land policies can be improved as a basis for better, fairer and more sustainable urban and rural development. Organized by: The Global Land Tool Network.

Land for Sustainable Urbanization
9 May 2008, 13.15-14.45, Conference Room B
With the majority of the world’s population now living in cities, and consequently, causing rapid urbanization in developing countries, what can be concurred is that there can be no sustainable development without sustainable urbanization. This side event will highlight key messages on sustainable urbanization, and recommendations related the current and future status of land. Organized by: UN-HABITAT with Women Environmental Programme (WEP).

Gender Friendly National Sanitation Policies: Success Stories and Challenges in Implementation
14 May 2008, 13.15 – 14.45, Conference Room 4
Graced by the presence of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange of the Netherlands (also the Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation),  this event will provide an opportunity for a range of stakeholders to share experiences and lessons learned on the theme. UN-HABITAT will be sponsoring two presentations during the event on “Gender disparities in Sanitation Policies in the Southern Africa Development Community Countries” and “The Sanitation Policy Framework for Senegal”. Organized by: UN-HABITAT and the UN Gender and Water Task Force

Background:
The Global Land Tools Network is a global land partnership, whose members include international civil society organizations, international governance institutions, international research and training institutions, donors and professional bodies. The network aims to take a more holistic approach to land issues and improve global land coordination in various ways. These include the establishment of a continuum of land rights, rather than a narrow focus on individual land titling, the improvement and development of pro-poor land management, as well as land tenure tools. The main objective of this network is to contribute to poverty alleviation and the Millennium Development Goals through land reform, improved land management and security of tenure.

For more information, please contact: Spokesperson, Head, Press & Media Relations Unit, or Media Liaison Officer, Tel: (254 20) 7623153; 7623151; Fax: (254 20) 7624060: E-mail: habitat.press@unhabitat.org; Website: www.unhabitat.org