although land laws are the starting point related legislation should also be considered family and marriage laws inheritance provisions and housing law are all important legal areas that play a supporting role in ensuring equitable treatment of men and women in control over land in many countries tradition is stronger than law when it comes to land issues opposition from land reform authorities peasant unions village authorities and male household heads can frustrate land reform efforts to extend legal land rights to both single and married women legal rights are difficult to enforce if they are not seen as legitimate thus recognizing customary land rights and working with community leaders is essential to ensure that womens rights are protected