 UN-HABITAT and the Global Land Tool Network last week held a three-day workshop to test a new training course on improving gender equality and grassroots participation in land governance.
Some 26 participants from 17 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean representing academic institutions, the public sector and non-governmental organisations attended the training. Development of the training package is a response to disadvantages women, the poor and vulnerable groups face in securing land and property in many countries of the developing world. Women in informal settlements are especially vulnerable to physical and sexual violence during evictions, according to UN-HABITAT’S Advisory Group on Forced Evictions. UN-HABITAT and GLTN emphasise that good governance involves participation of a wide cross-section of society, including the grassroots. Participants in the workshop developed action plans to work with a variety of partners to take the training course forward.  One of the workshop’s arising themes was that governments and land administrators can, and should, use targeted strategies and approaches to protect land and housing rights of women and other vulnerable groups. The training package explores some of the knowledge and skills that can be developed, and the approaches that can be used, to improve land governance. It targets surveyors, land administrators, urban planners, policy makers and community advocates on land and housing.
UN-HABITAT and GLTN will finalise the training course and materials in the next few months before disseminating it widely. Materials will also be available on the UN-HABITAT and GLTN websites. Related Links: |
