ACbit – Chega! Ba Ita Learning from the Past, for A Better Future
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Land is an essential resource for life, but in reality, women often become second option when it comes to discussing land rights, due to the patriarchal culture dominating our society, which prioritizes men in the process of land distribution and resource sharing. Such situations are also faced by many women survivors in various places. For this reason, through the program “Land Rights & Women and Land”, supported by Oxfam, ACbit facilitated training for survivors to empower their knowledge so that they can understand and defend their rights under the law and the special land regime.
In May, ACbit facilitated a two-day training on the “Basic Concept of Women’s Land Rights” for women survivors, their families, and Dinamizadora in Mauchiga, Ainaro. Survivor Amelia dos Santos shared that the training was very helpful because it made her understand that women also have rights to land and now, she knows how to ensure fair distribution of land and resources within the family. She explained that in the past, they were bound by patriarchal practices that disregarded daughters, and once women married, they were not considered to have land rights from their families. However, she realized that land is essential for life and that even a small piece of land can help sustain survival.
After the training, ACbit observed that it was necessary to provide further and more specific training on the “Special Land Regime Law.” Therefore, in August, ACbit, in collaboration with Consultants AFJTL, conducted another three-day training for survivors in Mauchiga, Ainaro. The aim was to provide survivors with more comprehensive knowledge so they could confidently protect their rights under the law. One of survivor shared, “Only after this training did I become aware that intelligent people have taken advantage of our ignorance and, together with local authorities, occupied our inherited land. Now I understand, and I will demand and strive to reclaim the rights that belong to us according to the law.”
This activity was made possible with the support of Oxfam and collaboration with community leaders and Dinamizadora in Mauchiga.
