Ethiopia has combined its fourth and fifth reports to the United Nations Committee that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This report outlines the status of women in Ethiopia and initiatives on the part of all government and non-governmental actors to address the goals set out by CEDAW. Institutional commitments to address gender issues are in place. However, the socioeconomic status of women, particularly in rural areas, remains lower in Ethiopia's male-biased social structures.

In a globalising world where the role of the local, the national and the global is shifting, the meanings of citizenship are also changing. This article presents some new theoretical discussions on gender and citizenship. It argues that, rather than something which sees everyone as "the same", citizenship should be understood as multi-tiered and formed through many different positions according to gender, ethnicity and urban/rural location.

Do women have effective land rights in practice? Research and policy have only recently begun to engage with the need for women to have independent rights to fields of their own. What needs to be done? Four areas for action are identified with associated strategies: improve women's claims on private land (e. g. through gender equal inheritance laws); improve women's access to public land (e.g. through land reform schemes); improve women's access to land via the market (e.g. through subsidised credit); and improve the viability of women's farming efforts (e.g.

Four years ago, I was part of a research team looking at access to land and basic services in informal settlements.

We conducted field interviews in Mukuru slums in Eastlands. We were amazed at the levels of development in the area. People were constructing permanent structures despite the fact that they were under the impression that informal settlements are characterised by temporary structures.

Four years later, there are ongoing discussions to address the plight of informal settlements. A fundamental starting point is to address issues of tenure security.

One of the most anticipated parts of a truth commission report is always the commission’s findings and recommendations. This Chapter provides a catalogue of the Commission’s findings and recommendations. 2. The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Act (TJR Act) required the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (the Commission) to make findings in respect of gross violations of human rights inflicted on persons by the State, public institutions and holders of public office, both serving and retired, between 12 December 1963 and 28 February 2008.

The Uganda-SIGI shows that investments in reducing gender inequalities holdimportant potential to improve women’s rights and reduce gender gaps. Over the pasttwo decades, Uganda has achieved solid progress, courtesy of comprehensive laws andpolicies strengthening women’s political participation and land rights, among others.

However, gaps and challenges remain across some key areas affecting women’srights. Gaps between opinions, perceived and actual practices highlight the urgency to tackle discriminatory social institutions through a multi-pronged and holistic approach.

Secure access to land and secure use of land, for housing-, agricultural- and other purposes is one of the cornerstones of making sustainable, positive development possible. As ZOA provides relief, hope and recovery to people impacted by conflicts and disasters, addressing land rights issues will need to be a permanent point of attention in our work.

Teaser for ZOA's new land rights guidelines developed with input from many of our peers and partners, based on the work done by many others in the field and supported by the Knowledge Management Fund (KMF).

Housing occupies an important position in the Kenyan psyche along with the concept of home ownership. The residential developments and investments attract both institutional, corporate organisations as well as private individuals. There are indications that the residential market in Nairobi is very active and that most of the valuation firms in Nairobi cany out market-based valuation of residential properties.

The cost of buying land and homes is set to rise significantly as the market factors in new valuation charges that have more than doubled for most asset classes.

Lands minister James Orengo introduced the new charges through an amendment to the forms and fees section of the Valuers Act, paving the way for their application in the property market beginning this month.

Valuation fees for certain classes of land or homes have increased by up to 400 per cent, piling upward pressure on sale prices.

Property assessment for rating purposes has been practiced in Kenya for over a century. Property taxation is a major source of local authority finance though its full potential has not being realized. The revenue received from property taxes is used for provision of services to residents within a local authority’s jurisdiction Lack of realization of full potential of the property tax is blamed on inefficiencies in the local authorities as a result of poor property tax administration.

Internal displacement in Kenya is a complex and multi-faceted social problem that revolves around and reflects unresolved issues of land and property, as well as the struggle for the control of political and economic resources. These intricate and sensitive issues, manifested in ethnic conflict, violent cattle raids, and government evictions characterised by human rights abuses have displaced people throughout the country.