[1]In the aftermath of crisis, women who own property are better able to cope [2]. Women with land have higher incomes, can use land as collateral for credit, and are less likely to be victims of domestic violence. That's pretty big stuff.

The October 2005 earthquake [3] that rocked Pakistan was a major crisis. UUSC knew women would be among the most vulnerable during recovery.

Many women would miss out on aid because their public movement is so limited. Others might be pressured to give up their undamaged assets. Widows would have to rely on extended families for survival -- families who were also devastated by the crisis. For many reasons, women would face greater difficulties trying to cope.

So UUSC worked with its Pakistan program partner Bedari [4] to introduce the issue of women's inheritance rights. Working in 30 earthquake-affected villages, UUSC and Bedari learned that many women want to inherit their share of land and assets -- a right that is explicit in both national and sharia (Islamic) law. However, most women felt pressured not to demand their inheritance or felt their demands would be ignored.

UUSC and Bedari also learned that many people -- women and men alike -- did not even know their rights.

Today, UUSC and Bedari -- and leaders in 30 villages -- continue to work with earthquake-affected communities to understand and defend the rights of women in the rebuilding process. Girls who are not in school are being encouraged to attend. Women who have been left out of official compensation packages are receiving legal support.

After such a crisis, rebuilding is a long and arduous task. But with a little support, women and their communities in Pakistan are rebuilding -- with justice.

Join us -- support this work [5].