A historic Guatemalan Supreme Court decision acknowledged that abuse committed against women was triggered by the community’s attempt to register the land they depend on for their livelihood and identity. However, this appears to be a global issue, as research shows that having land with documented rights makes a bigger difference than employment or education in reducing domestic violence. Researchers have also found that female ownership of property increases a woman’s economic security, deters spousal violence, enhances legal rights and access to justice, and decreases rates of child marriage. Photo credit: Maria Fleischmann/World Bank
