Customary law and its implications for women's rights and access to land in Africa : the case of anglophone Cameroon
Date
2010
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University of Buea
Abstract
This presentation focuses on women’s rights to land in the context of the dual customary and statutory practices that regulate land tenure in Cameroon. Statutory laws should be written in simple and engendered language to avoid generalities that reinforce discrimination. Colonialism in Africa altered the status of men and women vis-à-vis land and tenure: rigid sexual division of labour presented the man as the breadwinner and women as the home manager. By extension, the introduction of a market economy gave men control of the land. Decentralized power structures are needed, with enough resources to issue land titles and joint land titles.
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PowerPoint presentation
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Keywords
CUSTOMARY LAW, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, LAND OWNERSHIP, LAND TENURE, GENDER DISCRIMINATION, CAMEROON, OWNERSHIP, LAND TITLES, MARITAL STATUS, LAND ADMINISTRATION, SOUTH OF SAHARA