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World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

This year, June 17th, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, assumes a central role in the discussion of women's land rights and has as its theme “Your land, your rights".

In many parts of the world, women play a crucial role in managing natural resources, often at the forefront of the fight against desertification. As caregivers, farmers and community leaders, they are often the first to feel the devastating effects of desertification and the most committed to finding solutions.

However, the lack of adequate land rights is an obstacle, limiting their control over land and hindering their ability to make informed decisions about the management of natural resources. Desertification, land degradation and water scarcity only accentuate these inequalities, making women the hardest hit.

In this context, this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 2023, turns its attention to these issues, underlining the need to guarantee women's rights to land, to ensure a more effective fight against desertification, highlighting the intersection between management sustainable use of natural resources and gender equality.

To that end, this day calls for global action and awareness of the importance of this connection, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The Meaning of the Date

Image © DR (20230617) World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Desertification and drought are global issues as they affect all regions of the world, requiring joint action by the international community to tackle them in Africa in particular.

This is why this day is not just a milestone in the fight against these two degrading phenomena. It is, above all, an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between humans and the earth and to take action to protect it.

With this reality in mind, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17 as the “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought” through its resolution A/RES/49/115 adopted in December 1994.

The date is, therefore, an appeal to the collective conscience for the importance of protecting the land and the rights of those who cultivate and preserve it. The celebration of this day is a reminder that the fight against desertification and drought is also a fight for human rights, gender equality and social justice.

The day is a unique moment to remind everyone that land degradation neutrality (LDN) is achievable. The commemoration of the day is led by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

"This day is yet another reminder that human health and the health of the environment are deeply intertwined." Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO.

In 2023, the day takes on special relevance with the theme “Your land, your rights“. More than a call to action, it is an alert to the need to rethink the relationship between women and the land.

By highlighting the role of women in land management and in the fight against desertification and drought, the theme emphasizes the need to guarantee their rights to land.

The Goals for this year 2023

The 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought has a dual objective. First, it aims to highlight the injustices women face with regard to land tenure and access. Secondly, it aims to encourage action to ensure women's rights to land.

With the theme "Your land, your rights“, in addition to highlighting these inequalities, the 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought aims to show that the right to land is not only a matter of social justice, but also a fundamental step towards the sustainable management of the Earth.

Around the world, women play a crucial role in agriculture and in the management of natural resources, yet they are often denied the right to own the land they cultivate and protect.

By promoting women's land rights, we also encourage the sustainable use of natural resources, the preservation of biodiversity and the fight against desertification and drought. Through this combined action, we can promote more equitable and sustainable land management, while protecting the environment and the communities that depend on it.

The 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is therefore an opportunity for the global community to recognize the essential link between women, land rights and sustainable land management, and to take concrete steps to ensure that these rights are fulfilled. respected and protected.

See too: The world may enter a circle of destruction

Need/Urgency for Action

In times of growing climate crisis, there is an urgent need for action to combat climate change.

desertification and drought. These environmental issues, in addition to harming biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystems, can also result in conflicts over resources, forced displacement of populations and growing food insecurity.

In this context, it is crucial to recognize the importance of women's land rights. Women, despite being often the most affected by environmental changes, also play a key role in managing natural resources and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Securing women's land rights not only contributes to the promotion of gender equality, but can also result in more efficient and sustainable land management and greater resilience of communities to environmental changes.

However, more is needed than just recognizing the importance of women's land rights – action is needed. Land management policies and practices must be inclusive and equitable, ensuring women's access and rights to land.

Initiatives that value the role of women in agriculture and in the management of natural resources and that provide them with the tools and support necessary to exercise this role effectively should be promoted.

The need for action is urgent. Combating desertification and drought and promoting sustainable land management requires collective commitment and an integrated approach that leaves no one behind.

The 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a reminder of this urgency and a call to action to guarantee women's land rights and promote their leadership in the fight against desertification and drought.

Women's Leadership

Image © Eugene Sibomana (20230617) World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Women's leadership, particularly in land and natural resource management, is

crucial in the fight against desertification and drought. They have a deep understanding of local ecosystems, land use patterns and sustainable farming techniques, which are often passed down from generation to generation.

However, despite their essential role, women continue to be under-represented in decision-making positions and face significant barriers to their leadership, including the lack of recognition of their land rights.

This fact not only exacerbates women's vulnerability to desertification and drought, but also limits the potential of entire communities to combat these environmental threats.

It is therefore urgent to enhance women's leadership, both locally and globally, in the management of land and natural resources. This implies not only guaranteeing their land rights, but also investing in their education and training, promoting their representation in decision-making positions and valuing their knowledge and practices.

The Connection between Women and the Earth

Around the world, women have a deep and meaningful connection to the land. In different cultures and societies, women are traditionally in charge of managing natural resources, being responsible for agriculture, food production and the preservation of biodiversity.

However, despite their unquestionable contribution, they are often denied rights to the land they cultivate and protect.

This connection between women and the land goes beyond simple cultivation and conservation. It represents a relationship of mutual respect and balance that has a direct impact on the sustainability of the environment. The care and management that women exercise over the land are essential for the preservation of ecosystems and for mitigating the effects of desertification and drought.

However, gender inequalities still persist, limiting women's access to land and property rights. This lack of rights exacerbates their vulnerability to desertification and drought, making them even more exposed to its devastating impacts.

It is crucial to understand that securing women's land rights is not only a matter of social justice, but also an essential component of effective natural resource management and the fight against desertification and drought.

Therefore, it is essential that the theme “Your land, your rights” is taken seriously and that if

actively work to ensure that women's land rights are respected and protected.

See too: Climate: Are we past the point of no return?

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality is a persistent reality in many societies around the world and this is especially evident when it comes to issues related to land tenure and management.

Women, despite their crucial role in agriculture, managing natural resources and maintaining biodiversity, often see their land rights denied or limited. This fact not only exacerbates their vulnerability to environmental problems such as desertification and drought, but also prevents effective and sustainable land management.

Gender inequality in land tenure has a profound impact on both the environment and communities that depend on land for their livelihoods. Without access to natural resources, women face greater difficulties in maintaining their families and communities and in protecting the natural environment from the dangers of desertification and drought.

Furthermore, when women are prevented from taking an active role in land management, valuable knowledge and skills are lost that can contribute to biodiversity conservation and the sustainability of agricultural systems.

However, women are not just victims of gender inequality and environmental change – they are also key agents of change. Women have the knowledge, experience and resilience needed to lead land restoration and climate change adaptation efforts.

By guaranteeing women's land rights and recognizing and valuing their role in managing natural resources, we can not only promote social justice, but also foster more effective and sustainable land management.

Support Women, Support the Earth

Supporting women in their fight for equal land rights is a powerful strategy not only for promoting gender equality, but also for protecting our planet. Women are often the guardians of the natural resources in their communities and securing their land rights is critical if they are to continue to play this role effectively.

Land, when managed sustainably, is a powerful defense against desertification and drought. Land management practices carried out by women, based on ancestral knowledge, often favor biodiversity, resource conservation and climate resilience.

By giving women the necessary power and security to continue these practices we are supporting the health and sustainability of the earth.

But supporting women goes beyond just securing their land rights. It also involves recognizing and valuing their leadership, investing in their education and training, and creating policies and infrastructure that allow them to thrive. Women's fight for land is also the fight for land for all of us and by supporting them we are supporting the land.

take a stand

Together with partners, high-profile personalities and influencers, UNCCD is launching a global campaign #HerLand to recognize excellence, leadership and efforts in sustainable land management by women living on the frontlines of desertification, land degradation and drought, and to mobilize global support to advance land rights for women around the world.

We can all do our part:

Governments can promote laws, policies and practices that end discrimination and guarantee women's rights to land and resources.

Companies can prioritize women in their investments and facilitate access to finance and technology.

People can support women-led initiatives that are restoring the land and help spread the message by using the hashtag #HerLand.

Discover more and join the UNCCD.

key messages

Desertification, land degradation and drought disproportionately affect women, as they often lack access and control over the earth's resources. They are therefore the most affected by reduced agricultural yields and greater water scarcity.

In the vast majority of countries, women have limited and unequal access to and control over land. In many regions they continue to be subject to discriminatory laws and practices that impede their right to inherit as well as access to services and resources.

When women gain strength, families and communities benefit. In addition to being on the frontlines of land degradation and the impacts of climate change, women can also be at the forefront of global efforts to restore the earth's health and increase resilience to drought, thereby reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Investing in women's equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment in their future and the future of humanity. Securing women's land rights can help advance global gender equality and land restoration goals, as well as contribute to the achievement of the broader Sustainable Development Goals.

Conclusion

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In 2023, the fight against desertification and drought leads us to a deeper reflection on the relationship between women, land and their rights. Recognizing and strengthening women's land rights is critical to the sustainable management of natural resources and to meeting the challenge of desertification and drought.

It is imperative that efforts to combat desertification and drought include strategies to empower women, ensuring their access to and secure tenure of land. This year's theme, “Your land, your rights“ is not just a call to action, it is also a reminder that land and women's rights are inextricably linked and that one cannot prosper without the other.

What do you think of this date? Is it important to combat desertification and drought? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought