General

Through a core contribution to the International Land Coalition, SDC supports a global network of 207 members in 64 countries in which civil society, intergovernmental organisations and academic institutions interact to trigger changes in policies and practices at country level toward a land governance putting people at its centre. With a targeted additional support to the Land Matrix, SDC contributes to an independent monitoring initiative on large scale land deals, promoting transparency and accountability.

General

Responsible land governance is a central element in the current process of rural transformation and urbanization in developing countries, but its complex relations to food security and fragility have not received sufficient attention. SDC will support the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), facilitated by UN-Habitat, in addressing these challenges through preparing pro-poor and gender-sensitive land tools to improve tenure security for urban and rural poor with a conflict-sensitive approach.

General

LST is core funding. Strategic goal is to promote the full realization of the Rule of Law, justifiability of rights and public accountability. LST’s objectives 1) to be a leader in national level policy and legislative changes, 2) to engineer changes in perceptions, attitudes and traditions affect human rights 3) to make space for human rights discourse and to build the capacity of rights holders. LST has identified that reconciliation is necessary on many levels. Sri Lanka has seen not only a 37 year war which has resulted in deeply divided ethnic and tensions. Also seen increasing levels of religious tensions with sporadic occurrences of violence against religious minorities. The vulnerabilities of human rights defenders further aggravates the volatile human rights situation and prevents active participation by HRDs to protect and promote human rights and reconciliation. LST main activities: Governance and the Rule of Law to Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Gender Equality to and Food Security. Promoting reconciliation and protection of human rights by research and publication involving gender sensitive perceptions on truth, justice and reconciliation. Community empowerment including training of HRDs, community leaders, journalist trainings; advocacy at national level for policy changes Expected outcomes; 1) Improved levels of trust between people of different faiths and ethnicities and adopts a Transitional Justice mechanism. 2) Provincial radio, television and print media journalists improve their skills in reporting news. 3) Improved understanding of decision makers and duty bearers of the laws, regulations and Increased capacity of HRCSL to protect HRDS 4) Increased knowledge of communities, local lawyers and government officials on land laws and rights of land ownership, Community access to legal resources, lawyers (legal aid) and government officials, and the responsiveness of land laws and policies to people’s needs. Thematic focus Democracy, Gender Equality 

Objectives

This project mainly contributes to results within Good governance. Results will be reported later in the Global Civsam grant period 2016-2020