Exploring Women’s Housing Challenges: Legal and Policy Solutions for Women’s Access to Adequate Housing

Sohaimi, Nor Suzylah; Ismail, Nur Syakiran Akmal; Mega Nisfa Makhroja; Norhanizan Sahib; Ahmad Zuhairi

doi:10.29303/ius.v13i1.1643

Open access Journal SINTA 1

Exploring Women’s Housing Challenges: Legal and Policy Solutions for Women’s Access to Adequate Housing

Jurnal IUS (Kajian Hukum dan Keadilan) · Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025) · pp. 20–37

DOI: 10.29303/ius.v13i1.1643
ISSN: 2477-815X, 2303-3827
Published: 2025-04-28
Publisher: Magister of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Mataram
Language: eng
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

Women face significant challenges in accessing affordable and adequate housing, particularly in developing countries where discriminatory practices, gender inequality, and restrictive legal frameworks persist. Despite housing being recognised as a fundamental human right by international laws, many women around the world continue to face insecurity in this area. This issue remains largely underexplored, even though it directly impacts women’s economic and social well-being, safety, and overall quality of life. This study seeks to explore the patterns of research on women’s housing issues, identify the global challenges faced by women in accessing housing, and provide suggestions for the adoption of international practices and regulations to overcome these barriers. The research was based on a systematic literature review (SLR), which critically examined global studies on women’s housing to understand the core issues and solutions proposed by various nations. Key findings indicated that women encounter major obstacles, such as housing insecurity, gender inequality in housing access, and risks related to safety, including sexual violence. International practices, such as the Housing First model, gender-sensitive urban planning, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), offer frameworks to mitigate these issues. Policy recommendations include the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, expansion of affordable housing programmes, and the provision of integrated support services for women facing housing insecurity.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

23 authors · 50 co-authorship links · 7 across different organisations

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University of Mataram
Universiti Utara Malaysia
University of Warsaw
Affiliation unknown

Different organisations
Same organisation
Affiliation unknown
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Co-author	Organisation	Joint articles
Zunnuraeni Zunnuraeni	Affiliation unknown	2
Zulkarnain Zulkarnain	University of Mataram	2
Sirwan Yazid Bustami	University of Mataram	2
Heavy Nala Estriani	University of Mataram	2
Noralia Claudea	University of Mataram	2
Lina Trisonia	University of Mataram	1
Melisa Indriana Putri	University of Warsaw	1
Widodo Dwi Putro	Affiliation unknown	1
Erlies Septiana Nurbani	Affiliation unknown	1
Mohd Alif Jasni	Affiliation unknown	1
Mohd Ramlan Mohd Arshad	Affiliation unknown	1
Mohd Na’em Ajis	Affiliation unknown	1
Dwi Prilmilono	Affiliation unknown	1
Fatahullah Fatahullah	Affiliation unknown	1
Eman Suparman	Affiliation unknown	1
Muhamad Amirulloh	Affiliation unknown	1
M. Riadhussyah	Affiliation unknown	1
Alwafi Ridho Subarkah	Affiliation unknown	1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) http://jurnalius.ac.id/ojs/index.php/jurnalIUS/oai, first harvested 9 Nov 2026, last seen 9 Nov 2026.

Original metadata (oai_dc)

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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Exploring Women’s Housing Challenges: Legal and Policy Solutions for Women’s Access to Adequate Housing</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Sohaimi, Nor Suzylah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ismail, Nur Syakiran Akmal</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Mega Nisfa Makhroja</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Norhanizan Sahib</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ahmad Zuhairi</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Housing Insecurity</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Housing Safety</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Sexual Violence</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Women Right</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Women Inequality</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Women face significant challenges in accessing affordable and adequate housing, particularly in developing countries where discriminatory practices, gender inequality, and restrictive legal frameworks persist. Despite housing being recognised as a fundamental human right by international laws, many women around the world continue to face insecurity in this area. This issue remains largely underexplored, even though it directly impacts women’s economic and social well-being, safety, and overall quality of life. This study seeks to explore the patterns of research on women’s housing issues, identify the global challenges faced by women in accessing housing, and provide suggestions for the adoption of international practices and regulations to overcome these barriers. The research was based on a systematic literature review (SLR), which critically examined global studies on women’s housing to understand the core issues and solutions proposed by various nations. Key findings indicated that women encounter major obstacles, such as housing insecurity, gender inequality in housing access, and risks related to safety, including sexual violence. International practices, such as the Housing First model, gender-sensitive urban planning, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), offer frameworks to mitigate these issues. Policy recommendations include the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, expansion of affordable housing programmes, and the provision of integrated support services for women facing housing insecurity.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Magister of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Mataram</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-04-28</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-Reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://jurnalius.ac.id/ojs/index.php/jurnalIUS/article/view/1643</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.29303/ius.v13i1.1643</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Jurnal IUS Kajian Hukum dan Keadilan; Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025): Jurnal IUS Kajian Hukum dan Keadilan; 20-37</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2477-815X</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2303-3827</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.29303/ius.v13i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://jurnalius.ac.id/ojs/index.php/jurnalIUS/article/view/1643/667</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2025 Nor Suzylah Sohaimi, Nur Syakiran Akmal Ismail, Madam Mega Nisfa Makhroja, Norhanizan Sahib, Ahmad Zuhairi</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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