The Land and Property Rights of Women and orphans in the context of HIV and AIDS

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Case studies from Zimbabwe In Zimbabwe, as in many other parts of Africa, agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for widows and orphans. Within this reality, a groundbreaking study was commissioned to investigate the land and property rights of women and orphans in Zimbabwe in the context of HIV/AIDS. It also examines the coping strategies, in terms of land-related livelihoods, adopted by widows and other vulnerable women affected by the pandemic. Providing revealing empirical evidence and new insights based on interviews with key informants, focus group discussions and a semi-structured interview questionnaire, the study is framed around four Zimbabwean sites located in communal, resettlement and urban areas Buhera, Bulawayo, Chimanimani and Seke. The research critically examines Zimbabwes land and agriculture policies, and the utilization and efficacy of legal redress. It suggests and develops policy responses to cushion the impact of HIV/AIDS on local communities, especially dispossessed women. While confirming the vulnerability of widows and other categories of poor and vulnerable women and children to property rights violation, the study also analyses the critical roles played by women in establishing and managing urban and rural support initiatives.

Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Map of Zimbabwe study sites
acronyms and key terms
Executive Summary
1. Introduction and background to the study
2.Study sites, research instruments and study limitations
3. The land and property rights of widows, other vulnerable women and orphans in the study sites
4. Livelihood strategies of widows, other vulnerable groups of women and orphans in the study sites
5.Policy issues and recommendations
6 Concluding Remarks

References

Dr Kaori Izumi is Land Tenure and Rural Institutions Officer, and HIV and AIDS Focal Point for FAO Sub-Regional Office for Southern and East Africa. FAO is a member of Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, and co-convener of thematic group on HIV and AIDS and womens property rights in partnership with International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Dr Izumi is a co-founder of Women Land Link Africa (WLLA) which is a joint initiative by COHRE, Huairou Commission, FAO and UNHABITAT. She has worked extensively on the issue of property grabbing from AIDS widows and orphans in Africa both at technical level and advocacy.