Discusses the human rights issues raised by large-scale land deals for plantation agriculture (‘land grabbing’) in low and middle-income countries. Finds that it is a serious issue requiring urgent attention. Conceptualises the link between land deals and human rights, reviews relevant international human rights law and discusses evidence on actual and potential human rights impacts. Finds that important human rights dimensions are at stake and that compressions of human rights have been documented in some contexts.

Includes study objectives and context; technology briefing; projects capturing data around land acquisitions; key success factors and challenges; lessons learned from Congo Basin Projects.

Examines the impact of rural land policy on rural transformation and food self-sufficiency in Ethiopia and the relation this has with recent trends in large-scale rural land transactions. Concludes that there is very little institutional and technical capacity at regional level to conduct monitoring and oversight and enforce project obligations effectively.

Looks at key problems affecting land reform beneficiaries in FARM-Africa projects in the Northern Cape: livelihoods, the right to settle, lack of infrastructure, too poor to farm?, development plans, the management capacity of executive committees, gaining access to technical agricultural support and credit, equitable access and grazing fees, obligations of having water rights, the responsibility for Act 126 projects, government policies and their effects on emerging farmers.

Includes background, tenure arrangements, women and land tenure, customary marriages, the land issue after apartheid, criticisms of the legislation, the relationship of land legislation to customary law, recommendations.

Case study includes conceptual framework, rationale for land reform in Rwanda, assessment of choices, implementation. Highlights from the thematic dialogue include discussions on participation, decision making for optimal land use, land and the rural-urban interface and livelihoods, lessons learned and challenges. Third part examines possibilities for future co-operation.

Includes growing pressures on land and water rights, growing conflict; different pressures on land and water; availability of agricultural land and water throughout the world; distribution of access rights; socio-economic, legal and political variables; conflict over land tenure and water rights; demographic and climate factors; land grabbing a burning question; are we headed for global crisis?

An in-depth report including a regional overview; summaries of country presentations (Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe); thematic papers (including implications for land reform, HIV/AIDS, the global agri-food industry, implications of agricultural and trade liberalisation, lessons from the farm worker programme in Zimbabwe); running themes (conditions of service, citizenship and citizen rights, globalisation, land reform, farm visits, the way forward); annexes (communique, proposed regional network of NGOs and working strategy for trade unions,

Gives details on a province by province basis of the number of farm workers resettled in the current fast track resettlement programme in Zimbabwe. Argues that farm workers need to be considered in this programme and the Farm Community Trust is closely monitoring the situation with this in mind.

Focuses on the situation of farm workers after the fast-track land resettlement programme, including issues of housing and tenure security. Includes presentations from GAPWUZ, FCTZ, and some researchers, and a report of the discussions. Annexes contain full presentations. Recommendations include that under-utilised land be made available to farm workers. The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture has since asked FCTZ to facilitate public hearings on the issue in January 2006.

Contains background information, historical background, problems that the new Land Policy is addressing, the Policy document, the Land Policy goal, what can we do now that the Policy is with the Cabinet?, appendix.

Contains framing human rights in the global land rush; the impact of land grabbing on human rights; EU actors’ involvement in land grabbing; understanding investment webs; 5 mechanisms linking the EU to land grabs; the extraterritorial obligations of the EU and its member states; the EU’s response to land grabbing; conclusions and recommendations.