Securing Land Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 2021 Asia Land Forum took place from 26 to 29 October 2021 with the theme of Securing Land Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event was organised by the RCU in association with ILC Asia member the Asia Indigenous Peoples' Pact (AIPP). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was organised virtually through Zoom.
Secure land rights are central to eradicating poverty and hunger (Goal 1), advancing women's equal rights to economic resources, including land (Goal 5), building a world of justice where human rights are protected (Goal 16), protecting the environment and fighting climate change (Goal 13), and restoring degraded land and soils (Goal 15). Progress on the ILC’s 10 Commitments will contribute to at least 13 goals and 59 targets relating to People-Centred Land Governance.
Taking into account the accomplishments that the land community across the region has made so far, this year’s Forum explored the challenges and opportunities to acknowledge the centrality of land rights in the 2030 Agenda.
The event was divided into a series of thematic sessions co-organised with ILC Asia members. Aligning with this year's theme, the discussions focused on the importance of land rights in the SDG 2030 Agenda, in particular, to address social and economic inequality, protect land and environmental rights defenders, and mitigate climate change.
Steering Committee Election
At the Regional Assembly in November 2021, ILC Asia organised the election of the new Asia Steering Committee members. The new ASC will assume its role for the next three years until 2024 and will support the implementation of the new ILC Strategy 2022-2030, identify key priorities, and support the drafting of ILC Asia annual work plans in line with the new Strategy objectives.
Two members of this Committee are also part of the ILC Global Council, where they are expected to carry the voice of ILC Asia as it is an important body responsible for the general governance of the Coalition that functions as a board of directors.
The following is the composition of the ILC Asia Steering Committee 2022-2024:
- Pallab Chakma, Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladesh
- Dewi Kartika, KPA, Indonesia
- Beverly Longid, AIPP, Philippines
- Batjargal Sukhbishrel, MNFPUG, Mongolia