An Assessment of the Notions of Women’s Immovable Property Rights in Ethiopia in light of John Locke’s Theory of Property

Abstract

According to John Locke’s theory of property, once the person mixes their labour with a common property then that property, be it movable or immovable, belong to that person and they can use, possess or transfer it to a third party. But things are different in Ethiopia when woman’s right to property:-specifically their rights to immovable property are concerned. According to norms and values prevalent in most parts of Ethiopia, women cannot have rights to immovable property at all. They cannot possess, use or transfer these property by any means even if they contributed or mixes their labour with these different kinds of property. These customary laws are still winning out over legal frameworks in most rural parts of Ethiopia. This is a serious problem and results in unjust system of property.