The main focus of the Forum was on the climate crisis and the role of strong land rights in adapting to and mitigating climate change. However, it also focused on those issues traditionally championed by those working on land rights: gender equality and social inclusion, peace-building, food security, tenure security, land governance and the continued plight of those defending land rights and the environment.
The first Global Land Forum Youth (GLFY)(link is external) gathered 100 young people involved in regional initiatives in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East and North Africa to exchange ideas, strengthen a global network and participate in training sessions.

The enthusiasm and solidarity present at the GLFY across geographical, cultural and language differences was solidified in the GLFY Declaration, which included a demand for active and meaningful youth participation and inclusive decision making, as well as access to information, training and education.(link is external)

THE BATTLE FOR GENDER-EQUAL LAND RIGHTS IS FAR FROM OVER
In the MENA region, levels of inequality in land ownership by women are one of the highest in the world. Prindex data shows that the region has the highest rates of tenure insecurity – 28% of the population – and the greatest difference between how secure men and women feel about the land and property they own.

Dr Fatma Khafogy of the Arab States Civil Society Organizations and Feminists Network(link is external), Egypt, commented at the Forum: “Only 5% of women own agricultural land in the MENA region, despite constituting the majority of the agricultural labour force.” Laws do not allow fair inheritance by women and social norms compound that.

Yet an animated panel discussion revealed that women themselves can often oppose change of social norms. Those working on women’s empowerment have been focused on raising men’s awareness of entrenched norms, supporting champions in communities to help to change those norms. Now they are putting in place interventions for women as well as men about social norms, the need to change them and how to change them.