READ THE WOMEN'S LAND RIGHTS PAPER N.5 ON WOMEN ASSERTING THEIR LAND RIGHTS IN BUGESERA DISTRICT, RWANDA
WOMEN'S LAND RIGHTS IN RWANDA
The objectives of this study were: to identify women experiencing challenges in securing access and control over land, to document their experiences in fighting for these rights, to identify impediments to fair settlements of land disputes involving women, and, to work with the women to devise strategies to enforce and protect women’s rights to land ownership. The research was conducted in two Sectors in Bugesera district in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Participants were mostly women involved in various land disputes, mediators (Abunzi), members from the courts, and local leaders from the study area.
The findings indicate that customary practices regarding inheritance are still widely practiced in Rwanda alongside the new legislation that gives equal land rights to men and women. Also, most of the disputes involving women are resolved by the Abunzi because women view the Family Council and the Umudugudu as biased and highly susceptible to prejudice.
While women are increasingly aware of their land rights, they face a number of challenges when asserting them, including a lack of necessary assistance. Advocacy focused on those areas that have the greatest capacity to affect women’s land rights is needed, including adequate support of facilitating institutions and the foundation of community land information systems to check unlawful land transactions.
