(Originally published on 04/22/2015)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China today gathered a host of international experts alongside national professionals and stakeholders to design a landmark new study, which will advance the development of women’s land rights in China. 

At present women in China find their access to rights over land is hindered by an array of interrelated legal, political, administrative, economic and socio-cultural barriers, contributing significantly to the persistent gender inequality confronting Chinese society. As part of ongoing work on inequality in China, UNDP China partnered with the China Law Society to enlist the support of experts from the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and UNDP Vietnam, who together with senior figures from national bodies including the Landesa Rural Development Institute, the Central Party School and Tianjin Normal University and 22 more research and governance institutions developed the scope and methodology for new research on ways to address these barriers. 

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, UNDP China Country Director Christophe Bahuet emphasised the importance of this research topic, noting that ‘access to land is not only vital for women’s livelihoods, but also their security and their power to make decisions over their lives. Equal access to land is critical for women’s human development.’

After a morning session in which the present state of affairs regarding women’s land rights in China was compared and contrasted with that in Vietnam (where progress has been made on a comparable situation), the assembled group of nearly 30 research experts began discussions to identify the factors most in need of investigation, and the best way in which to explore them. The resultant study formulated today will be a significant contribution towards better-empowering women in China, providing recommendations for policymakers and identifying ways in which future development programmes can support women’s land rights. 

China Law Society Executive Vice President Chen Jinping noted the relevance of the workshop’s international dimension, remarking that ‘Vietnam is our friendly neighbour, and its socio-economic system has great similarities with China’s. It is thus both important and meaningful to research and learn from Vietnam’s methods and experiences.’ UNDP Vietnam Programme Analyst LE Thi Nam Huong offered advice to China: 'popularising the legal concept of land rights, and changing women's perceptions about land rights are two potential strategies to reduce exclusion.'

Moving forward, the study will be completed in May 2016 by a group of select researchers drawn from a diverse and complementary set of academic and institutional backgrounds, coordinated by the China Law Society. It is UNDP’s hope that the advice and insight it provides will be of useful impact to China’s development; today’s workshop provides cause for optimism.