Today, as we call for a more inclusive, gender equal world in recognition of International Women’s Day, we are thankful to have another milestone to commemorate.
Just one year ago, Habitat for Humanity launched our first global advocacy campaign. Solid Ground was created to ensure that everyone has access to land for shelter. And, with your support, we’re doing that by changing the policies and systems at all levels of government that are standing in the way. Ensuring secure property rights for women provides far-reaching benefits for entire communities, and that is why we were intentional in officially launching the Solid Ground campaign on March 8, 2016 in observance of International Women’s Day.
During our first year, we have promoted policy and systems projected to improve access to land for shelter for nearly 1 million people. Habitat for Humanity organizations and partners are implementing the Solid Ground campaign in 27 countries. To give one example, Habitat for Humanity Honduras is engaging local stakeholders to promote land policies one municipality at a time and are expecting their policy wins to improve access to land for shelter for more than half a million people. And the list of those joining the global movement for improved access to land for shelter continues to grow. At the global level, we leveraged our world-wide network to ensure that adequate and affordable housing, secure land tenure, and community-led development remain focal points of the New Urban Agenda, the roadmap to sustainable urban development for the next 20 years.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Be Bold For Change.” As we celebrate our one-year anniversary, we commemorate International Women’s Day by asking you to #BeBoldforChange to improve secure tenure for women around the globe.
A year ago, Solid Ground was merely a name and an ambitious idea to change lives around the world. Throughout the month, we invite you to join us in celebrating what we have been able to accomplish #FromtheGroundUp and share how you will #ActforLandAccess in the years to come. What actions have you taken to promote global access to land? How will you work to increase secure land tenure this year? How can you call on others to #ActforLandAccess? Share your own social media posts or use ours.
Our first year was full of great accomplishments, but there’s much much to do. Thank you for being a part of our movement to create the foundation for better housing through safe and secure land access.
With gratitude,
Anne Myers
Campaign Director