Land rights are foundational to achieving a world with resilient and sustainable food systems, reduced net emissions and increased environmental conservation and restoration, free of poverty and systemic gender discrimination. In short, securing land rights are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To achieve the SDGs targets, we need to look at the change from the eyes and vision of citizens and from those who will be leading the communities and our world in 2030: the youth.
Aiming at widening spaces for young people's voices and redistributing power within and beyond the network, the ILC Fellowship consisted in a one-year programme for young activists and change-makers who are making the difference within peoples’ organisations in the ILC network and in the land rights space. This dynamic programme connected youth from all over the world and equipped them with tools to leadership skills and bring about change to achieve land governance and, consequently, the SDGs.
The report looks into the journey of six Youth Fellows from Asia, coming from member organisations of ILC's. From the building blocks to implementing their action plans at the local level, the Youth Fellows' journey marks an important power shift where young people should be accounted for their aspirations and leadership skills in the global land rights movement.