¡¡LUSAKA, Jan. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- A regional meeting aimed at finding ways of empowering women in land and property ownership has opened Wednesday in Zambian capital Lusaka with a call for governments to review laws infringing on women's rights to own land and property.

    The three-day meeting, organized by Justice for Widows and Orphans, a Zambian organization dealing with the welfare of widows and orphans, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has drawn participants from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

    FAO Representative in Zambia Dong Qingsong said women's rights to own land and property in the region were under threat due to lack of appropriate legislation and cultural beliefs.

    "When their husbands die, women are often not only accused of the death of their husbands, but they are in addition often chased off their land, lose their other properties and are abandoned by family members," he said.

    Dong said women's rights to own property was found as one of the major problems by a United Nations (UN) Task Force initiated to investigate matters relating to women, girls and HIV/AIDS.

    "In addition, women's land and property rights are threatened, aggravated by AIDS," he said.

    Zambian Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services Stephen Mukuka said Zambia was taking measures to abolish hand repeal customs and regulations which constitute discrimination against women.

    He said the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country as well as in the region has left many women vulnerable when their husbands die because of weak inheritance rights.

    "The number of widows and orphans in Zambia, for instance, is alarming and any effort aimed at ameliorating their plight should be encouraged," he said.

    According to the Zambian minister, the UN has set up a Task Force to conduct research on issues of property and land inheritance rights. He further added that it was the responsibility of the governments in the region to put in place conducive laws and policies.

    The meeting is expected to come up with a draft plan of action to prevent land and property grabbing from women and orphans. Enditem