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The Post-2015 Agenda must address the structural factors that undermine sustainable development. It is widely recognised that secure and equitable rights to land and natural resources are central to this effort. Land rights empower people and provide a sense of dignity. They enhance food security and are fundamental to achieve the right to food and increase the productivity of small-scale food producers. They provide an incentive for ecosystem stewardship, and they promote inclusive and equitable societies whilst underpinning cultures and value systems. In most countries of the world, land rights make the difference for girls and women that need education, income and voice. It is estimated that non-marketed services derived from the use of land and natural resources make up 50-90% of the total source of livelihoods of rural households living in poverty world-wide. Efforts to achieve sustainable development for all must therefore consider rights to land and natural resources as a priority.
