Liberia: Rural Women Land Rights Forum Tackles Ownership Gaps

• A three-day national forum in Buchanan, Liberia, is addressing critical land rights and economic opportunities for rural women.
• Organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection Liberia and partners, the event precedes Liberia's National Women's Day.
• Despite the Liberia Land Rights Act 2018 recognizing customary ownership, rural women still face significant barriers to securing land rights in practice.
• Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson and Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh affirmed the vital role of rural women and the need for practical support and strengthened organizational structures.
• The forum aims to foster policy dialogue, accountability, and practical measures to enhance land rights and livelihoods for rural women across Liberia.

Advocates for women's rights highlight that the practical implementation of this act, particularly in translating the legal recognition of women's customary land ownership Liberia into secure, enforceable rights for rural women, remains a significant challenge.

A significant three-day national forum dedicated to rural women's land rights and economic empowerment has commenced in Buchanan, Liberia. This event, which began on Tuesday, precedes the country's National Women's Day celebration and places the critical issues of land access and economic opportunity at the forefront of the national agenda. The gathering is a collaborative effort, organized by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection Liberia in partnership with ForumCIV Liberia land rights, the National Rural Women Structure, the National Alliance for Women Land Rights, and several other key organizations.

Rural women constitute a substantial segment of Liberia's agricultural workforce and are indispensable for ensuring household food security across the nation. Despite their pivotal role, these women frequently encounter considerable obstacles when attempting to own or control the land they cultivate. Furthermore, they often face limited avenues for legal recourse, restricted access to financial credit, and inadequate market opportunities, exacerbating their economic vulnerability.

A key piece of legislation, the Liberia Land Rights Act 2018, was enacted to address some of these disparities by formally recognizing customary land ownership. However, advocates for women's rights highlight that the practical implementation of this act, particularly in translating the legal recognition of women's customary land ownership Liberia into secure, enforceable rights for rural women, remains a significant challenge. This gap between legal provision and practical reality underscores the ongoing struggle for equitable land tenure.

The forum received a warm welcome from Grand Bassa County Superintendent Karyou Johnson, who described the county's role as host for this celebration as a historic milestone. Johnson underscored the enduring contributions of rural women, noting their essential role in sustaining families, bolstering national food production, and maintaining agricultural activities despite persistent difficulties. He emphatically declared rural women to be the "backbone of Liberia," emphasizing that the forum provides a timely opportunity to confront these obstacles, especially concerning the security of land rights. Johnson asserted, "Land rights are not a favor; they are a right."

Superintendent Johnson also detailed his administration's consistent support for rural women in Grand Bassa County land rights women initiatives. He reported that during his initial budget period, the county provided direct financial and agricultural assistance to various rural women's groups across its districts. This commitment continued into the second budget period, with a renewed focus on inclusion and contributions to specific programs designed to benefit rural women, demonstrating a sustained effort to empower this demographic at the local level.

Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Atty. Laura Golakeh, served as the guest speaker, reiterating the Ministry of Gender Children Social Protection Liberia's unwavering commitment to collaborating with rural women throughout all 15 of Liberia's counties. Her remarks emphasized the ministry's dedication to advancing their priorities and development agenda. Golakeh acknowledged the profound contributions rural women make to their communities, families, and the nation's overall stability, while also recognizing the significant challenges they confront. She expressed support for their calls for enhanced access to opportunities, resources, and support. Furthermore, Golakeh stressed the imperative of strengthening rural women's organizational structures to ensure their concerns are communicated and addressed effectively, envisioning a coordinated framework that would enable the ministry and its partners to engage more efficiently nationwide and collaboratively develop solutions.

Over the three-day duration, the forum is expected to facilitate discussions among rural women and other key stakeholders on practical strategies aimed at reinforcing land rights, expanding economic opportunities, and fostering resilient livelihoods. A central objective articulated by the organizers is to encourage greater accountability from various actors and to solidify national commitments towards improving the social and economic conditions of rural women across Liberia.

This concerted effort to address the systemic issues faced by rural women is crucial for national development. By focusing on policy dialogue, advocacy, and practical implementation, the forum seeks to bridge the gap between legal frameworks, such as the Liberia Land Rights Act 2018 implementation, and the lived realities of women seeking secure land tenure and economic justice. The outcomes and recommendations from this gathering are anticipated to inform future policy directions and advocacy efforts, particularly concerning Liberia land access justice women.

Lawyers advising on land tenure or women's rights in Liberia should monitor the outcomes and policy recommendations from this forum, as it highlights ongoing challenges in implementing the Land Rights Act for rural women and may signal future legislative or regulatory changes, enforcement priorities, or advocacy opportunities related to customary land ownership and access to justice.

Source: Original reporting via Liberian Observer