In defense of land rights: A monitoring report on land conflicts in six Asian countries 10 Regional summary: A Perspective Overview of Land Conflicts in Six Asian Countries1 By Antonio B. Quizon, ANGOC L and governance is defined as “the rules, processes and structures through which decisions are made about access to land and its use, the manner in which the decisions are implemented and enforced, and the way that competing interests in land are managed” (FAO, emphasis supplied). As such, the definition of land governance involves three key elements, namely: (i) a set of rules, processes and structures, whether these are defined by legal, customary or traditional systems; (ii) decisions on land distribution, access and use, including the enforcement of rights; and, (iii) management of conflict due to competing interests on land. It is widely recognized that land being a fixed and limited resource is an inherent source of conflict. Yet, any study of land conflict should also view and address the broader contexts in which land policies, structures and processes have evolved, and how land is allocated, and rights are protected and enforced. OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY Objectives ANGOC This assessment study aims to contribute towards a better understanding of land and resource conflicts that impinge on human rights, by providing Citation: Quizon, A. (2019). A Perspective Overview of Land Conflicts in Six Asian Countries. In ANGOC (Ed.) In defense of land rights: A monitoring report of land conflicts in six Asian countries (pp. 10-45). Quezon City: ANGOC. 1