In Senegal, despite the existence of legal provisions and international commitments to promote gender equality in land rights, women continue to face significant challenges in accessing and controlling land. While the 2001 Constitution explicitly prohibits gender-based discrimination in property rights, traditional practices and patriarchal norms often limit women’s access to land. Traditionally, land is a collective family asset under the control of the head of the household, and the rights obtained by women are generally temporary and secondary in nature, with women rarely receiving full administrative rights over land. In addition, women’s limited knowledge of procedures for accessing land and the influence of patriarchal norms contribute to their marginalization in this area. To overcome these constraints, women create their own strategies, such as collective access through groups.
This analysis of gender inequalities in land matters is composed of two parts: first, a report describing the main problems and constraints related to women’s access to land in Senegal, as well as a series of recommendations to improve women’s access to land in Senegal; second, a catalogue of interventions that support women’s land rights and that can be implemented on a larger scale in Senegal.
Droits Fonciers et Inégalités de Genre au Sénégal (French)
Materials will be translated into English and posted here when available.