“Mediation offers a peaceful alternative to litigation in land disputes, as seen in the SudCam case in Cameroon. By promoting dialogue and cooperation, mediation can help communities protect their land rights and livelihoods.”  

Blog by Francis Simeu, TI Cameroon, to celebrate International Human Rights Day

As we observe International Human Rights Day, we are reminded of the importance of upholding fundamental human rights, including rights to land. For millions, land is not just a physical space but a source of identity, culture, and livelihood.  

Under the umbrella of the Land Dialogues series, the last  webinar of this year’s series “Navigating Loss and Damage : A Path to Justice for Indigenous Peoples” took place on December 5th, 2024. The webinar drew in a little over 250  participants. The series is organized by a consortium of organizations, including the Land Portal Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Tenure Facility.  

Dr. Serene Ho’s keynote address at the 8th India Land and Development Conference offered a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between climate action and land governance, particularly in the Global South. As a Senior Lecturer in Land Administration and a researcher passionate about the socio-political dimensions of land, Dr. Ho provided a nuanced analysis of the pressures exerted by climate strategies on land-dependent communities.

Sanjay Gajiwal, Deputy Election Commissioner and a seasoned Indian Administrative Service officer, delivered a thought-provoking keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC). With a career spanning diverse roles in urban governance, disaster management, and land reforms, Gajiwal brought his unique blend of administrative experience and academic rigor to the stage, shedding light on the challenges and possibilities of modernizing land governance in India.

Prof. (Dr.) Jiju Alex, an eminent scholar in agriculture and rural development, delivered a profound keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC). Drawing from his extensive experience and Kerala’s pioneering initiatives, Prof. Alex explored how decentralized governance can be a cornerstone in building climate resilience and empowering local communities to address the challenges of climate change.

Jacinta Kerketta, a distinguished poet, writer, and journalist from the Oraon Adivasi community of Jharkhand, delivered a stirring keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference. With her voice deeply rooted in the struggles and stories of her people, Jacinta brought the ongoing displacement and erosion of Adivasi land rights into sharp focus, weaving poignant poetry with hard-hitting narratives.

Gautam Bhan, a leading urbanist and Associate Dean at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), delivered a compelling keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC), challenging entrenched narratives around housing in urban India. His address, rooted in decades of research and practice of teams of researchers at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bangalore, delved into the critical intersections of affordability, adequacy, and viability, forming the pillars of what he called "India's housing question."

Professor Anju Vali Tikoo, a distinguished academic with a career spanning over three decades, delivered a passionate and incisive keynote at the 8th India Land and Development Conference (ILDC). Her address, a clarion call for gender inclusivity in land governance, explored the intersection of law, policy, and lived realities for women in India. With her deep-rooted knowledge of legal frameworks and her personal experiences, Prof. Tikoo brought to light the systemic barriers that continue to marginalize women in matters of land ownership and decision making.

This blog post is part of the series What to Read. 

Have you heard about Loss and Damage (L&D)? I must admit very humbly that I did not fully grasp the ins and outs of the concept before I was asked to write this digest. If, like me, your interests lie primarily in land governance, you might very well be unfamiliar or only vaguely familiar with this notion.

The global transition to renewable energy depends on critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, but their extraction raises significant challenges for land rights, environmental sustainability, and equitable benefit sharing. In this webinar, experts from Zambia, Uganda, Indonesia, and the global governance field explored what it takes to align mineral extraction with principles of justice and equity.

Summary of the  Global Donor Working Group on Land session at the Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development from 26 November 2024. This text is written with the assistance of AI tools.