Women’s Land Rights in South Asia: A Gender Mainstreaming Approach

Abstract

Women’s land rights are a highly critical issue for gender equality and sustainable development in South Asia.  Governments of this region have endeavored to reform legal provisions in terms of land rights, but minimal progress has been achieved. This paper aims to examine the legal frameworks, customary practices, and policy measures related to women’s land rights across South Asian countries and to evaluate the extent to which gender mainstreaming principles are incorporated into land governance and property rights policies in the region. The study employs a qualitative research design and a desk-based review of peer-reviewed academic journal articles with reliable sources. The main focus of this paper is legal provisions, customary practices, and gender mainstreaming initiatives in the countries. Findings indicate that the implementation mechanism is weak because of structural barriers. The study underscores the transformative potential of land ownership for women’s empowerment and poverty alleviation in South Asia.