The Habitat International Coalition (HIC) actively participated in the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), held from 24–28 February 2026 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This global gathering marked twenty years since the original 2006 conference and brought together governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, social movements, and academic institutions to reflect on progress and challenges in land governance, agrarian reform, and rural development.
HIC’s engagement was grounded in its long-standing commitment to promoting the human rights to land, housing, and habitat. Recognizing that land governance is intrinsically linked to gender equality, climate justice, and the realization of human rights in both rural and urban contexts, the Coalition contributed to advancing a rights-based approach throughout the different ICARRD+20 spaces.
The HIC delegation was composed of members and partners from diverse regions, reflecting the Coalition’s global character and grassroots connections. Participants included Hassiba Belghith, Association Citoyenneté et Développement Durable (AC2D, Tunisia), Maede Salimi, Center for Sustainable Development and Environment (CENESTA, Iran), Joseph Schechla (Housing and Land Rights Network, Egypt), Derrick Sebaka (Habitat Defenders Africa, Uganda), Laura Tabet (Nawaya, Egypt), and Hilary Zhou (Zimbabwe Peoples Land Rights Movement, Zimbabwe). They were joined by HIC-affiliated members participating under other networks, including Khalid al-Khawaldeh (Jordan), Massa Koné, HIC Board Representative for Social Movements (Mali), and Musa Sowe (The Gambia). In addition, Dr. Mohamed al-Salimiya from Palestine played a key role in representing the realities of communities affected by conflict and displacement.
Prior to the official conference, HIC delegates contributed to the International Academic Conference “Land, Life and Society” at the University of Cartagena. This space brought together researchers and practitioners to generate evidence-based insights on land governance, agrarian reform, and rural inequality. HIC members emphasized that access to land must be understood as part of a broader set of rights, including secure tenure, housing, and access to justice. They also engaged in critical discussions on the structural drivers of dispossession, including market forces and climate finance pressures.
HIC also played an active role in the Forum of Peoples and Social Movements, a key civil society space held immediately before the official conference. The Forum brought together grassroots movements, Indigenous Peoples, peasants, and civil society organizations to articulate common demands and influence the ICARRD+20 agenda. During this space, HIC delegates contributed testimonies and facilitated discussions across regional working groups, particularly in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa. A strong intervention was delivered by Dr. Mohamed al-Salimiya, who highlighted the severe impacts of conflict, occupation, and displacement on land and housing rights, with a particular focus on Palestine.
Throughout the Forum and subsequent discussions, HIC advocated for the adoption of a comprehensive approach to agrarian reform based on justice and accountability. The Coalition introduced the Remedy and Reparations Framework (RRF) as a more holistic alternative to narrower land reform models, emphasizing the importance of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition in addressing historical and ongoing injustices.
During the official ICARRD+20 conference, HIC delegates actively engaged in plenary sessions, thematic dialogues, and networking spaces. They highlighted the need to link agrarian reform with broader habitat-related rights, including the right to adequate housing, climate justice, and the protection of land and environmental defenders. Contributions from HIC members drew on concrete experiences from their respective regions, addressing issues such as forced evictions, land restitution, and community-led housing solutions.
The conference took place in a context of growing global crises, including increasing land concentration, climate change impacts, food insecurity, and shrinking civic space. Discussions were further shaped by new data presented during the conference, revealing that only 35% of the world’s land has documented ownership and that approximately 1.1 billion people are at risk of losing their land rights. These findings reinforced the urgency of adopting inclusive and rights-based land governance systems.
Despite the richness of discussions and the strong engagement of civil society, the final ICARRD+20 Declaration fell short of expectations. Many organizations, including members of the International Planning Committee (IPC), raised concerns about weak language on human rights, insufficient recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and limited commitments to meaningful participation. In response, civil society actors presented an alternative declaration reaffirming their commitment to justice, accountability, and human rights.
The conference nonetheless marked an important moment for rebuilding global momentum around agrarian reform. HIC’s participation contributed to strengthening alliances across regions and movements, while reaffirming the interconnected nature of struggles for land, housing, and habitat justice.
Moving forward, HIC will continue to work alongside its members and partners to advance equitable and sustainable land governance systems. By bridging grassroots experiences, policy advocacy, and international human rights frameworks, the Coalition remains committed to promoting social production of habitat, secure land tenure, and the protection of communities whose lives and identities are deeply connected to land and territory.
You can read the full report available here.
