MORE THAN LAND
LAND AND PEACEBUILDING
Land is often at the core of conflict. Changes relating to land-rights and land-use systems – for example in agriculture – can lead to competition and exclusion, and can play a major role in causing (sometimes violent) conflict. Alternatively, people displaced by conflict may want to return to their land. In many conflict situations, there is a lack of clarity over the land rights of displaced people, and a lack of equitable remedy where land has been unfairly acquired. This leads to higher risks of further destabilizing already fragile states.
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LAND RIGHTS IN THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
In the aftermath of both natural disaster and conflict, reconstruction and resettlement policies and programmes must be inclusive of women and those who are landless – some of the poorest and most marginalized people in the country. Especially in the case of climate-related disasters, such as storms or floods, it is important that authorities ensure that affected communities become stronger and more resilient in the face of future events.
Unless the fundamental issue of security of land tenure is addressed, the poorest and most vulnerable people – those most affected by climate-related disasters – are at risk of being left out of any lasting recovery and rehabilitation.