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

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• Continue sharing experiences• Continue documenting best practices• Share knowledge of pilots and replications and create innovative ways of doingthis• Build and strengthen coalitions at all levelsWe also felt that organisations needed to reach out beyond the comfort zone of theirtraditional partners.We noted the need for training and sensitisation in gender and human rights for formaljustice centres to create awareness and change perceptions and to improve the manyflaws in traditional justice delivery systems. Ideally, this requires a vibrant movement oflegal and para-legal NGOs, but even with that ‘while formal rules can be changedovernight, informal norms change only gradually.’ And the bottom line is that proactivelegal change can only go as far as society is prepared to accept.In writing some critical reflections of Oxfam’s work on land rights recently, one of thethings that struck me was the critical importance of individuals, as distinct frominstitutions. I suspect others may have found this too. In work of such sensitivity, it iscritically important to find people you can trust and work with effectively, even if onlyfor short periods of time. So seeking out kindred spirits, even in unlikely places, is reallyimportant. And sustaining alliances, as we all know, demands hard work.Finally, back to ZambiaAt the end, I want to say two more things about Zambia. First, despite your well-knowneconomic and political failings, Zambia has remained a country at peace for over 40years in a region where all your neighbours have been at war at one time or another. Youalso have a wonderfully tolerant political tradition. You don’t kill people who disagreewith you politically – again in contrast to many of your neighbours. These things youmust treasure and preserve and they should be helpful in seeking to address the issuesbefore us in this workshop.But there is another Zambian tradition that may need to change. Let me tell this in apersonal way. A couple of weeks ago in The Hague I met for a second time an Americanacademic and writer on women’s land rights with whom I had been corresponding formany years. We had finally met for the first time only about 3 years ago in Addis Ababa.Two weeks ago, she told me that she had expected to meet a woman, not a man in AddisAbaba! I took this as one of the finest compliments I have ever been paid, for a variety ofreasons. I may be quite wrong, but I fear that most Zambian men would not haveinterpreted such a misunderstanding as a complement – and that that response, I suggest,lies at the root of what we are about to discuss.I am looking forward to our workshop with great anticipation.42
Closing Speech by Mr. Qingsong Dong, FAO representativeChairperson,Members of Parliament,Her Royal Highness Senior Chieftainess Nkomesha and workshop participants.It is my great pleasure to be invited to take part in the closing ceremony of this importantnational workshop on women’s property rights and livelihoods in the context of HIV andAIDS. Many speeches in the opening ceremony outlined the general problem around theissues of women, children, HIV and AIDS and property rights using expressions such as“alarming”, “tragic” and “an emergency”. These expressions were given statisticalsignificance through the official figures from Zambia and the region. This meeting hastaken this language further, giving these figures a “human face” through the varioustestimonies and experiences that have been shared between participants. It is thecommitment of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN that these sharedexperiences will be turned into practical solutions and become an inspiration for all.The need for political will has emerged as a clear theme in this workshop, demonstratedby the presence of distinguished and honoured guests such as the Senior ChieftainshipNkomesha, Assistant Chief Peter Muteru from Kenya, the Chief Magistrate of Zimbabweand various senior officials from Zambia. I would like to express my sincereappreciation for their presence and support throughout the workshop and the willingnessto demonstrate their high level of dedication to an issue that is often not given theimportance it deserves, especially in the political arena. It is from their example that theZambian government should recognize this dimension and commit itself to engagingpolitically with the resolutions of the workshop.At the outset, the workshop participants were challenged to apply “empathy” and“compassion” when considering the intractable challenges that women and children facein a context of chronic poverty, HIV and AIDS and uncertain property rights. Thischallenge has been specifically directed to men who, when placed in influential positions,do not listen or act efficiently on such matters. It is important to change our way ofthinking and become more sympathetic to the challenges facing women and children.This complexity of issues has been described as an emergency. However, an, emergencygalvanizes our collective minds and actions, turning tragedy into an opportunity to act.Building from the reality of the grassroots, we need to respond to the examples ofresilience and inspirational initiatives. As such, the workshop has been challenged tofind practical solutions that are workable and make rights a reality.The workshopThe workshop has displayed a creative blend of different people and experiences. Amajor achievement has been the sharing between regional participants exemplified by theZimbabwe delegation, including the chief magistrate, the assistant master of high court,the police unit, and community based organizations representing widows and orphansthemselves has provided a powerful mix that must find solutions. I understand that the43
Page 2 and 3: Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 4 and 5: LIST OF ABBREVIATIONSCOHRE:ESCR:FAO
Page 6 and 7: 2.0 Welcome and Opening RemarksFlor
Page 8 and 9: 3.0 Legal issues of women’s prope
Page 10 and 11: grabbing. The category of widows an
Page 12 and 13: 4.3 Rights of widows and orphans in
Page 14 and 15: Chieftainess Nkomesha proposed that
Page 16 and 17: I used the pension money from my la
Page 18 and 19: among female-headed households. The
Page 20 and 21: 7.3 Zimbabwe Republic Police Progra
Page 22 and 23: discovered through the Home Based C
Page 24 and 25: Gradually, the marriage became viol
Page 26 and 27: Act has a number of gaps in terms o
Page 28 and 29: move a little, within the same area
Page 30 and 31: • National Gender policy in need
Page 32 and 33: Why these targets?Policy makers•
Page 34 and 35: also traditional land administered
Page 36 and 37: The workshop concluded with partici
Page 38 and 39: Distinguished guests, ladies and ge
Page 40 and 41: • Third, ways must urgently be fo
Page 44 and 45: inspiring testimonies from Uganda,
Page 46 and 47: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ON HOW TO MOVE
Page 48 and 49: Annex 3: Workshop Programme and Lis
Page 50 and 51: List of participants, organizations
Page 52: Moreen Mudimba Ntengwe Orphan Manjo

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