Nepal - Women constitute 51.5 percent of Nepal’s total population and about 75 percent of them are engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation.

But most have no ownership over the land and property that they may have been tilling for years. Even though the government has been introducing proactive measures to promote women’s access, ownership, and control over land and property, very few people are aware of it.

In response, IOM, in partnership with Nepal TV, are airing a public service announcement (PSA) to raise public awareness on the issue.

The PSA, which will be screened ten times a day throughout August, highlights that securing women’s land and property rights not only gives them improved access to financial resources and better agricultural productivity, but also helps reduce domestic violence. It also shows how a couple can make a joint registration of land for less than USD 1.

The PSA is part of IOM, UN Habitat and UNDP’s efforts to support the government of Nepal, particularly Ministries of Women, Children and Social Welfare; Land Reform and Management; and Peace and Reconstruction to empower women in Nepal and secure their rights to land and property.

The project is entitled “Empowering Women for Women (W4W): Access to Land for Sustainable Peace in Nepal”. It aims to address issues of access, ownership, and control over land by women through a peacebuilding lens. It is funded by the UN Peace Building Fund.

The PSA can be viewed here.

For further information, please contact IOM Nepal. Jitendra Bohara, Email: jbohara@iom.int, Tel. +9779802013567 or Ariani Hasanah Soejoeti, Email: ahsoejoeti@iom.int, Tel. +9779810175020.