CSD NGO Women's Caucus

Suggested Amendments to the Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Integrated Planning and Management of Land Resources and on Agriculture
(New York, 28 February - 3 March 2000)

E/CN.17/1999/--- , 13 March 2000

by Diana Lee-Smith, diana.leesmith@unchs.org

[Below, the amended paragraphs are quoted. Amendments & suggested changes are in square brackets. Quotes from the Habitat Agenda are in CAPITALS and in normal text where changes are suggested to the Habitat language.]

II. Integrated Planning and Management of Land Resources

A. Possible elements for a draft decision by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eighth session

4. Access to land and security of tenure 10. Governments are encouraged, according to their respective culture and traditions, to adopt policies and implement laws that guarantee well-defined and enforceable property rights and improved access to land and security of tenure, in particular for disadvantaged groups, including people living in poverty [delete: , women] and indigenous groups [add: , ensuring equality among men and women].

III. Agriculture A. Possible elements for a draft decision by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eighth session

77. The Conference of the Parties to the CBD and Governments are encouraged to support the strengthening and effective implementation of the CBD Work Programme on agricultural biological diversity and to support FAO and other relevant institutions in their roles in the implementation of this Work Programme.

(b) Access to Resources

78. Governments are encouraged to adopt and implement national policies and laws that guarantee equitable ownership, access to land and security of tenure through well-defined and enforceable land property rights in particular for disadvantaged groups, including people living in poverty, [delete: women,] indigenous and local communities. Access to credit, particularly through rural micro-credit schemes is also important.

WE PROPOSE TO REPLACE THIS PARA WITH 40 (b) from HABITAT AGENDA, ADAPTED:

Governments are encouraged to PROVIDE LEGAL SECURITY OF TENURE AND EQUAL ACCESS TO LAND TO ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING WOMEN, indigenous communities AND THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY; AND TO UNDERTAKE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS TO GIVE WOMEN FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO ECONOMIC RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO INHERITANCE AND TO OWNERSHIP OF LAND AND OTHER PROPERTY, CREDIT, NATURAL RESOURCES AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES.