UNCCD COP15

COP15 brings together leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, and other key stakeholders from around the world to drive progress in the future sustainable management of land.

The land is crucial for a healthy, productive society, and COP15 explores links between land and key sustainability issues such as climate change. These issues are discussed during high-level roundtables and interactive dialogue sessions, as well as numerous other special and side events. ​

For GLF, COP15 is a key moment in the fight against desertification, land degradation, and drought. Land rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment are among the top items on the Conference agenda.

Land governance is more urgent than ever before

During the round table titled Achieving Restoration Objectives through Safeguarding Legitimate Tenure Rights, experts discuss the role of smallholders in securing land tenure to ensure investments in ecosystem restoration and food security and land-based adaptation options for millions of people around the world.

As the global community scrambles to address multiple crises, responsible land governance is more urgent than ever before. The session outcome points summarize:

• TMG Research and its partners have developed a human rights-based approach to land governance monitoring, including a reference tool called the Human Rights and Land Navigator, which they will launch during this side event session.
• The online tool aims to make the UN-backed Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) more tangible by detailing human rights on which they are based.
• During the session, UNCCD stakeholders and human rights actors discuss the potential of the international human rights system and the new tool to enhance the implementation of the VGGT to safeguard legitimate tenure rights for ecosystem restoration.
• The event provides practical entry points for land rights defenders, national-level policymakers, and human rights bodies to advocate for and monitor progress on land governance instruments.