IDLO will be advocating for a rule of law approach to land governance at the World Bank Land Conference from 13 to 17 May in Washington, D.C., USA. Held for the first time since 2019, the conference provides a forum to explore land governance issues, showcase research, share best practices, and inform policy dialogue around the theme, “Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action.”
Due to the prevalence of weak legal frameworks, inadequate land tenure systems, and ineffective enforcement mechanisms in many countries, land emerges as a critical issue demanding justice solutions. Groups within society who face the highest hurdles in terms of securing tenure, including women, youth, children, and Indigenous communities, are more likely to be subject to forced evictions and perpetual insecurity. As climate change further amplifies the competition for ever-scarcer land and resources, more and more people may be forced into poverty, subject to food insecurity and malnutrition, displaced, and vulnerable to situations of conflict and insecurity.
To enact transformative climate action that ensures inclusivity, IDLO advocates for climate justice through the promotion of non-discriminatory laws and policies, effective and people-centred institutions, and equitable access to justice. Inclusive land governance, firmly anchored in the rule of law, stands as a fundamental pillar in achieving climate justice.
During the conference, IDLO will co-organize two thematic sessions:
- “Inclusive and Transparent Land Governance Practices for Building Effective Land Administration Institutions amid the Changing Climate,” co-organized with the African Development Bank and the International Land Coalition (ILC) on 15 May (2:00-3:30 pm EDT, Room MC 2-800, Watch live here). This session will feature a panel discussion on how rule of law approaches can catalyse action and accountability in Africa’s pursuit of people-centered climate and land justice. It will also identify opportunities for additional investment at the nexus of land governance and climate adaptation and mitigation.
- “Women’s Land Rights as a Foundation for Sustainable Climate Action,” co-organized with the Stand for Her Land Campaign, Landesa, TMG Land Governance, the ILC, and Land Equity on 16 May (9:00 am-10:30 am EDT, Room MC 2-800, In person only). The session will highlight the critical links between women’s land rights, climate action, land restoration and the protection and conservation of biodiversity. It will make the case for the need for stronger implementation of women’s land rights to achieve this goal, in line with the UN’s three Rio Conventions, on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification.
Read more about IDLO’s work on land and climate justice:
- Climate Justice: A Rule of Law Approach for Transformative Climate Action
- Climate Justice for Women & Girls: A Rule of Law Approach to Feminist Climate Action
- Rule of Law Responses to Climate Insecurity
- Women’s Participation and Leadership in Customary and Informal Justice Systems
- Rule of Law for Food Systems Transformation