Land Rights for Women in Rural Ethiopia: Legal Framework and Reality

The right to access land is fundamental to meaningfully empower women and to address gender disparity in developing countries. Consequently, the issue of rural women’s access to land is the crucial aspect of land law and its implementation. Proper implementation of the laws governing the right to access to rural land is essential for reinforcing gender equalities. This article investigates the adequacy of the legal and institutional framework of land rights especially for women, identifies gaps in the practical implementation of land rights for women, and offers recommendations on facilitating a better land access for rural women.To address these research objectives, a qualitative research approach was employed. Qualitative data collection techniques, such as in-depth interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were applied to collect data. The obtained data were analyzed using thematic data analysis techniques employing Atlas ti.8 Software. The study revealed that the existing formal land laws are not sufficient to ensure rural women’s land access and to protect their land rights, though rural women are required to be treated equally to men in the acquisition, use, and control of land. Gaps in the implementation of laws regulating access to rural land and a lack of institutions at local level have been identified. To better protect and enforce the right of rural women to access land, gender-sensitive legal frameworks should be properly enforced and appropriate institutional frameworks created in the study area.