Property Rights

The importance of women's property and inheritance rights is recognized in international legal instruments and in a growing number of national laws, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979) and the Beijing Platform of Action (1995). Property rights usually include the legal rights to acquire, sell, own, and transfer property; to keep and collect rents; to keep one's salary; to make contracts; and to bring lawsuits. In the land market, property rights laws for instance, determine who can possess land and who can buy and sell property.

Thus, a fundamental step to achieve gender equality is to establish equal basic rights, especially in family law, property rights, and political rights. Yet, women often face legal, cultural, and/or ...