Empowering rural women through land rights

The Rural Women Land Rights Conference (RWLRC) marked its 4th edition on September 29th, 2023. The conference was organized around "Empowering Rural Women through Legal and Economic Advocacy for Land Rights." It was a collaborative effort between ForumCiv, the Multi-Actor Platform Liberia, Action Aid Liberia, and other partners. 

The RWLRC, initiated by ForumCiv Liberia in 2020, serves as a crucial national platform where rural women from across Liberia come together to share experiences, network, develop advocacy strategies, and directly engage with those responsible for ensuring their land rights. The conference aims to promote land ownership among rural women and increase their land management and governance participation. In the 2023 conference, more than 15 rural women shared inspiring stories of how they applied the knowledge and skills gained from previous conferences to secure land ownership, benefiting both themselves and others.

One particular success story involves Ma Musu, the Head of Rural Women in Bong County. After attending the inaugural RWLRC in 2020, she embarked on an awareness campaign, raising awareness about land rights and advocating for the 2018 Land Rights Act. Her efforts resulted in land recovery for women like Comfort Goll, who regained control of over a hundred acres, including a rubber farm, which she now manages to support her family.

The RWLRC plays a pivotal role in empowering rural women by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to assert their land rights and fostering economic independence and self-sufficiency.