Report of the National Conference: Women's Property Rights ... - FAO

Annex 2: Press release, Opening and Closing Speeches, StrategicFrameworkPress ReleaseOn the 25-27 January a National Workshop on Women’s Property Rights andLivelihoods in the context of HIV and AIDS took place at Lusaka’s MulungushiInternational Conference Centre. Opening the Workshop, the Deputy Minister ofCommunity Development and Social Service, Mr. S. Mukuka, drew attention toparticularly vulnerable groups, widows and orphans, noting that the HIV and AIDSpandemic is increasing their numbers and that they face injustices “mainly due totraditional practices which have continued despite the HIV and AIDS pandemic”.The organizers of the Workshop, Justice for Widows and Orphans Project (JWOP),Zambia Law Development Commission and the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) brought participants from five countries together to share their experiences and toexamine and devise practical solutions to the enormous difficulties faced by women inthe context of gender discrimination, land rights and increasing HIV and AIDS infection.A central focus of the workshop was the plight of widows and orphans, often cruellydispossessed of their properties and thus their livelihoods in the midst of bereavement.Present at the workshop was Mrs. Chilala, a widow currently living with seventeengraves in her backyard. These have been placed there by her brother-in-law inpunishment for her refusal to marry him and revoke her rights to her homestead.Although laudable work has been done on her behalf by organizations like Justice forWidows and Orphans Project (JWOP), she has so far obtained no relief. Participants atthe workshop appealed to the Royal Foundation of Zambia to intervene and resolve thematter. Litigation strategies were also examined as a way of offering relief to the manywomen who find themselves in similarly desperate circumstances.Other outcomes of the workshop included the proposal for the formulation of appropriatenational policies, with sufficient funding and implemented across ministerial departmentsthat address customs, practices and laws that disadvantage women and children inparticular. One such law is Zambia’s Intestate Succession Act, which although seekingto improve the position of widows and children of the deceased, nonetheless can go muchfurther in protecting their properties and livelihoods.Conference discussions also drew attention to the fact that wills are infrequently made,leading to much confusion at death. The need to draw communities’ attention to theimportance of these documents and how they themselves could draft a will wasemphasized. Although much discussion was directed at efforts to empower women andchildren, conference discussion was also directed at ways in which communities andpotential perpetrators might come to better understand the particular difficulties andvulnerability of women and children.35