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Table of Contents
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Gender Checklist: resettlement
Why is Gender Important in Resettlement?
Development projects that change patterns of use of land, water, and other natural resources cause a range of resettlement effects. Resettlement losses arise due to land acquisition, through expropriation, and use of “eminent domain” or other regulatory measures to obtain land and assets. This may result in loss of livelihoods and resources and breakdown of community networks and social services. Loss of resources for subsistence and income may lead to hardship, social tensions, and impoverishment. The affected persons have no option but to rebuild their lives, incomes, and asset base.
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"The rights would include: right to property; right to
use, plan, and manage local resources; right to decision-making process;
right to participation; right to information; right to redress; right
to development policy-making process; right to decisions over how local
resources will be used; right to negotiate; right to fair and just compensation;
right to common property resources; right to equal wages for equal work;
and right to employment” (Sinivasan 2001).
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This process of economic and social dislocation could, and often does, exacerbate existing gender disparities and inequalities. In many societies, women do not enjoy land and property rights, have lower levels of education than do men, work in the informal sector, experience restricted mobility, and carry responsibilities for meeting basic needs such as water, fuel, and fodder. Hence, economic and social disruption may result in greater hardships for women than for men.
In all situations of change, affected persons—individually and as a community—are differentially impacted. Gender is an important factor in determining differential impact. Typically, the focus of re-settlement planning is at the household level. Failure to understand intrahousehold dynamics is more likely to ad-versely affect women than men. At the policy and institutional level, inherent societal biases may preclude women from benefiting from opportunities provided through the project.
Gender issues in resettlement cannot be adequately addressed unless rights and equity concerns are identified, confronted, and tackled.
Why is Gender Important in Resettlement?
- Gender disparities that already exist in society and the family tend
to become aggravated at times of social and economic stress.
- Women may not have landownership and property rights.
- Women may have lower levels of education, skills, health, and nutrition
than those of men.
- Women work in the informal sector, such as agriculture and collection
of forest produce. They are equally concerned with sources of livelihood.
- Restricted mobility and lack of exposure to the outside world are
two of the gender-specific factors resulting in lack of ability of women
to adjust to new situations.
- Women tend to have responsibilities for basic needs like fuel, fodder,
nutrition, water, and sanitation. Loss of these has a far greater impact
on women than on men.
- Breakdown of community and social networks affects women more than
men. Social networks are a source of help in times of crisis and provide
security for the household.
- Gender disparities embedded in social practices and traditions render
women vulnerable to violence and stress. Any situation of economic and
social distress creates more scope for violence against women, adding
to their vulnerability.
- The nutritional status of women is lower than that of men, while mortality
and morbidity rates are higher. Economic and social distress can aggravate
the situation and cause further deterioration of women’s health.
- Adverse effects on women have a bearing on the well-being of the family,
particulary children and the elderly.
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