ID :
24976
Fri, 10/17/2008 - 01:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/24976
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Women unaware of property rights despite 5-year-old law
Hanoi (VNA) - A recent survey found that most women did not know they
have the right to have their names on land use rights certificates.
Action Aid Vietnam conducted a survey on women's rights to access land
in six districts throughout Vietnam - Da Bac in Hoa Binh, Tam Duong in
Lai Chau, Ninh Phuoc in Ninh Thuan, Mang Yang in Gia Lai, Cau Ngang in Tra
Vinh and Vung Liem in Vinh Long.
According to the survey, conducted from June to August in more than 1,000
households, although a five-year-old law stipulates that both women and men
are entitled to jointly have their names on ownership documents, awareness
of the right varies.
In many cases, women are not signatories for land use rights and goods.
This puts them in a position of dependency, which can be a hidden threat to
women and their children in difficult times.
Saroj Dash, director of Acting Action Aid, said that while women are the
key to feeding and bringing up families, their right to access and
utilisation of land and goods is violated in many cases.
He said that one of the actions the Government could take to achieve
better food security for destitute women was to recognise their rights to
land access and land use, both in law and in reality.
"This is a very basic and legitimate right for women," he said.
Many Vietnamese women, especially those with little formal education, do
not know this. Even female district officials are often not fully aware of
the need to convert single name certificates into joint ownership.
One female district head of the Vietnam Women's Union said oriental
women often thought that property belonged to their husbands, but as
marriages almost never broke up and tradition recognised her contribution to
the household, there was little need to worry.
Couples who would like to have both their names on a certificate are
afraid of the cumbersome administrative formalities and high registration
fees.
The Action Aid report has recommended simplifying certification and
raising the awareness of women and officials in public authorities.-Enditem
have the right to have their names on land use rights certificates.
Action Aid Vietnam conducted a survey on women's rights to access land
in six districts throughout Vietnam - Da Bac in Hoa Binh, Tam Duong in
Lai Chau, Ninh Phuoc in Ninh Thuan, Mang Yang in Gia Lai, Cau Ngang in Tra
Vinh and Vung Liem in Vinh Long.
According to the survey, conducted from June to August in more than 1,000
households, although a five-year-old law stipulates that both women and men
are entitled to jointly have their names on ownership documents, awareness
of the right varies.
In many cases, women are not signatories for land use rights and goods.
This puts them in a position of dependency, which can be a hidden threat to
women and their children in difficult times.
Saroj Dash, director of Acting Action Aid, said that while women are the
key to feeding and bringing up families, their right to access and
utilisation of land and goods is violated in many cases.
He said that one of the actions the Government could take to achieve
better food security for destitute women was to recognise their rights to
land access and land use, both in law and in reality.
"This is a very basic and legitimate right for women," he said.
Many Vietnamese women, especially those with little formal education, do
not know this. Even female district officials are often not fully aware of
the need to convert single name certificates into joint ownership.
One female district head of the Vietnam Women's Union said oriental
women often thought that property belonged to their husbands, but as
marriages almost never broke up and tradition recognised her contribution to
the household, there was little need to worry.
Couples who would like to have both their names on a certificate are
afraid of the cumbersome administrative formalities and high registration
fees.
The Action Aid report has recommended simplifying certification and
raising the awareness of women and officials in public authorities.-Enditem
