IMPROVED LAND REFORMS AND WOMEN ¿S ACCESS TO LAND IN SIERRA LEONE

Inequalities in land rights exist globally, both in formal and customary settings. This is because land rights are either strong or weak, and held by various categories of people. The weaker variants of the inequalities tend to stifle tenure security, reduce land use, and threaten the food security of those dependent on the land for survival. The book examines improved land reforms and women ¿s access to land in Sierra Leone. The laws that governs the devolution of property on death or customary rules that applies to particular ethnicities in Sierra Leone varies, and as a result provides little protection for the customary tenure of women. Also, there are local variations within the practice, levels of flexibility towards women ¿s land rights and opportunities to reform customary laws. The inconsistences of statutory protections for women significantly compromise vulnerable group¿s particularly single women, widows and marriage women.