Intro -- Half Title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors -- Abbreviations -- Overview -- Chapter 1: Law, Gender, and the Business Environment -- Chapter 2: Women's Legal Rights across the Region -- Chapter 3: Legal Pluralism: Multiple Systems, Multiple Challenges -- Chapter 4: Women's Rights in Practice: Constraints to Accessing Justice -- Chapter 5: The Way Forward -- References -- 1 Law, Gender, and the Business Environment -- Structure of the Report -- Importance of Economic Rights in Business Incentives -- Extent of Legal Protection of Women's Economic Rights -- Main Areas of the Law for Women In Business -- Nature of the Legal System -- Impact of Rights on Economic Opportunities -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 2 Women's Legal Rights across the Region -- The Women-LEED-Africa Database -- Scoresheet 1: Ratification of International Treaties and Conventions -- Scoresheet 2: Gender Provisions in Constitutions -- Scoresheet 3: Recognition of Customary and Religious Law -- Scoresheet 4: Legal Capacity -- Scoresheet 5: Marriage and Property -- Scoresheet 6: Land Law and Land Rights -- Scoresheet 7: Labor Laws -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 3 Legal Pluralism: Multiple Systems, Multiple Challenges -- The Role and Interplay of Various Sources of Law -- Challenges of Multiple Legal Systems and Inconsistent Laws -- Conclusion -- Cases Cited -- Notes -- References -- 4 Women's Rights in Practice: Constraints to Accessing Justice -- Formal Judicial Systems in Practice -- Customary Systems in Practice -- Conclusion -- Cases Cited -- Notes -- References -- 5 The Way Forward -- Strengthening Legal Substance -- Securing Existing Benefits -- Increasing Women's Awareness -- Proceeding with Conviction-and Respect -- Conclusion -- Cases Cited -- Notes -- References.

Appendix A: Scoresheets -- Appendix B: Comparison of Databases on Women and the Law -- Appendix C: Database of Court Cases -- Index -- Back Cover.

The importance of property rights in providing the incentive to invest, work hard, and innovate has been recognized for centuries. Yet, many women in Africa do not have the same property rights or formal legal capacity enjoyed by men. Empowering Women: Legal Rights and Economic Opportunities in Africa documents the extent to which the legal capacity and property rights vary for women and men, and analyzes the impact this has on women's economic opportunities. The book introduces the "Women's Legal Economic Empowerment Database - Africa (Women LEED Africa)." This database covers all 47 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing indicators and links to constitutions, ratified international conventions, and domestic statutes where there are gender gaps in legal capacity and property rights. It shows how and where, despite universal constitutional recognition of non-discrimination, many countries have exceptions in areas of marriage, ownership, and control over property and inheritance. With less secure property rights, women in these countries do not have the same ability - or incentive - to accumulate and control assets and thus to access finance or to grow their businesses. After laying out the various gender gaps in legal capacity and property rights, the book addresses the additional challenges stemming from legal systems with a multiplicity of sources of law. Overlapping legal systems themselves add uncertainty to defining women's economic rights. The authors use case law to trace out the implications for women's rights and to provide examples of effective reforms.The book recognizes that beyond de jure differences, women may face greater practical constraints in having their rights protected. This book spells out specific steps that can be taken to address gender gaps both in formal property rights and in practical constraints in accessing

justice.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.