Empowering rural women: land rights day sparks change in Liberia

Over 280 participants, including government officials, donors, civil society groups, and rural women, gathered to discuss critical issues surrounding land ownership. The main topics included the need for better access to land for women, more financial support for land reform, and the importance of legal frameworks to ensure women’s land rights are fully protected.

Government and international leaders show support

Key figures at the event emphasized the importance of supporting rural women’s land rights. The Deputy Minister for Gender spoke about the vital role women play in economic decisions and called for more efforts to ensure they have access to land, which is key for food security and economic independence.

Hon. Richard N. Koon also stressed the need for strong legislation to back up the 2018 Land Rights Act, ensuring it serves all women, including those with disabilities. International supporters, including H.E. Gerald Considine and H.E. Kerstin Jonsson Cisse, pledged continued support for women’s land rights, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and legal compliance to ensure land ownership for women.

Women networking at the Rural Women Land Rights Day. Photo: Snotee Sorbor

Building the future for rural women

The discussions also highlighted the need for more financial support, such as creating an agricultural bank for rural women, and for empowering them with the resources and training needed to succeed. Ingrid Udden Sievert and Anna Scheiber both called for inclusive decision-making processes that involve rural women in land governance at every level.

While there is progress in promoting women’s land rights, the event made it clear that more needs to be done. Participants agreed that legal and financial barriers must be overcome, and that women must be included in all land-related decisions.

Rural Women’s Land Rights Day was a significant step toward ensuring that Liberia’s rural women have the rights, resources, and opportunities to own land, leading to greater independence and a more equitable future for all.