WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com,

Recife is the fourth-largest^[1] metropolitan area in Brazil  and the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions,

http://www.huairou.org/

Team of Experts Supports Women in Land Regularization Process in Recife, Brazil

A "shadow advisory committee," embarked on a mission to Recife, Brazil today, to monitor and support women during the model land regularization process.  The committee will stand together with the grassroots women who are taking leadership within the regularization process, supporting them to ensure gender equality and women's empowerment, applying the Gender Evaluation Criteria that they helped to develop as part of the UN Habitat Global Land Tools Network (GLTN).  The land regularization in Ponte Maduro in Recife was announced at the GLTN roundtable at the World Urban Forum last March, informing the women that their struggle would finally pay off and that after 45 years of no land land ownership, the land would be turned over to the 8,000 families there.

The Huairou Commission has commissioned this committee of experts, a 'Shadow Advisory Committee', to provide direct support and technical advice to the Local Committee developed by Espaco Feminista.  They will interact with the team responsible for providing technical and legal assistance, support the community members in charge of conflict mediation and visit the community.

This trip represents their first major action.  The women visiting Recife this week are Ayse Yonder, architect and Professor of City and Regional Planning at Pratt Institute, Asa Jonsson of GLTN, Diana Medina of UN Habitat ROLAC and Katia Araujo, Land and Housing Campaign Coordinator, Huairou Commission.  In addition to these four women, the shadow advisory committee includes Diane Dumashie, planner and leader in FIG (Association of Surveyors), Fati Al Hassan (Grassroots Sisterhood Foundation, Ghana), Cecilia Martinez of the ROLAC office and Birte Scholz Law and Policy Advisor of the Huairou Commission.  

As GLTN 's partner primary partner on gender, the Huairou Commission conducted pilot projects of the Gender Criteria it helped to develop in GLTN. HC members Espaço Feminista (Brazil), Grassroots Sisterhood Foundation (Ghana) and LUMANTI (Nepal) tested the gender criteria's relevance and workability in evaluating large scale land tools, such as municipal Master Plans, land reform commissions and land administration systems.

The land regularization process has now begun.  Espaco Feminista is spearheading the process, ensuring that women are empowered all along the way.  Espacio Feminista has set up a Local Committee of state and local government officials, grassroots women and men, community leaders and civil society professionals.  This committee will plan, monitor and evaluate the process of land regularization, working to resolve disputes and ensure a sound planning process.  The Gender Criteria established in GLTN will be used to ensure the process is truly gender sensitive.  The Local Committee has representatives from CEHAB, FUNDAJ, Espaço Feminista, City of Recife Council and members of the community (if and depending on internal agreements

This process of land regularization with women's empowerment at its core is being regarded by all involved, including the state agencies, as a model for future regularizations. This is appropriate for Recife, as it has been a pioneer in democratic human settlements work. The process is leading toward greater decision-making power and leadership for women within their community.