Global Study on the Situation of Indigenous Women and Girls In the Framework of the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action • OUR VOICES AND ACTIONS FOR OUR RIGHTS AFTER 25 YEARS OF BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION Credits GENERAL COORDINATION Teresa Zapeta, FIMI Executive Director COORDINATION AND CONTENT REVIEW ILLUSTRATORS Aminatu Gambo, Program coordinator of Politi- Daniela Del Angel cal Participation and Advocacy Nela Snow Josée Daris, Institutional Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer TRANSLATION Maria Manuela Sequeira Morales, Linking and Asiatis (Canada) Strategic Partnerships Officer LEAD WRITERS COPYRIGHT Ms. Alejandra Faúndez, Inclusion and Equity © International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI/ Ms. Laura García Del Río, Inclusión y Equidad IIWF), 2020 Ms. Giulia Tarducci, Inclusión y Equidad Ms. Ely Meléndez, Inclusión y Equidad ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The content of this publication may be reproduced REGIONAL WRITERS without authorization but always citing its source Ms. Adija Adamu, a Mbororo from Cameroon in and never for commercial purposes. Africa Ms. Alicia Limtiaco, from Guam in the Pacific This publication was funded by the Foundation Ms. Eleanor Dictaa n-Bang-oa, a Kankana-ey for a Just Society and the Swift Foundation. Igorort from the Philippines in Asia The contents of this publication, and the views expressed therein, are the responsibility of FIMI, PRODUCTION COORDINATION which has the permission of the members and Isabel Flota, Institutional Communication Officer communities mentioned. Aminatu Gambo, Program coordinator of Politi- cal Participation and Advocacy PICTURES CREDITS Comments on this publication can be submitted All photos included in infographics are property of to the FIMI International Indigenous Women’s Alejandra Faúndez Meléndez Forum at: Other pictures belong to the International Indig- [email protected] enous Women’s Forum (FIMI) and [email protected] or at the following address: LAYOUT Av. Horacio Urteaga 534-203, Jesús María (Lima Daniela Del Angel, Omnigrama Consultores 11), Peru. Table of Contents FOREWORD ..........................................................................................................................6 Our Journey, Our Voices! ....................................................................................................7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................9 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................10 Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................12 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................15 2. Methodology ...............................................................................................................18 3. Indigenous Women and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action ..............21 3.1 The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995): A Milestone Event in the Creation of the Indigenous Women’s Movement ............22 3.2 Strengthening Indigenous Women’s Organizations at the Local, National, Regional and International Levels ..........................................................................24 3.3 The 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: the Main Achievements of Indigenous Women over the Last 25 Years .................27 4. Progress and challenges FOR Indigenous Women in the framework of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action .......................................................31 4.1 Conceptual Framework ..........................................................................................35 4.2 Indigenous Women and Poverty.............................................................................36 4.3 Education and Training of Indigenous Women .......................................................38 4.4 Indigenous Women and Health ..............................................................................41 4.5 Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls ......................................................43 4.6 Indigenous Women and Armed Conflict .................................................................46 4.7 Indigenous Women and the Economy ....................................................................49 4.8 Indigenous Women in Power and Decision-making ...............................................50 4.9 Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Indigenous Women ..................53 4.10 Human Rights of Indigenous Women ...................................................................57 4.11 Indigenous Women and the Media .......................................................................60 4.12 Indigenous Women and the Environment ............................................................61 5. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................66 6. Toolkit for effective advocacy ....................................................................................69 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................73 FOREWORD The voices of Indigenous Women of all ages must lands and territories from the harmful effects of be heard in decision-making at all levels if we are extractive industries and climate change; full rec- to find solutions anchored in sustainable develop- ognition of traditional knowledge and sustainable ment practices. COVID-19 has had profound and development practices; respect for indigenous unprecedented impacts on women of many races justice systems; protection from violence; and and ethnic backgrounds, and they must be repre- meaningful participation in conflict prevention, sented in the solutions. peace, security and humanitarian action. UN Women is proud to have partnered with the This global study complements the Secre- International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI) tary-General’s Report on the Review and Ap- for several years. Through this relationship, we praisal of the Implementation of the Beijing Dec- celebrate their achievements as agents of change laration and Platform for Action and Outcomes of as well as highlight the challenges that Indigenous the Twenty-Third Special Session of the Gener- Women and Girls face in their quest for equality al Assembly. The light that the report sheds on and dignity. This collaboration and partnership will progress levels, good practices and the remain- be further enhanced through the participation of ing structural challenges is a stimulus for us all to Indigenous Women in the Generation Equality ac- rethink our strategies and sharpen our focus on tivities, including in the Action Coalitions. inclusive development. The context of Indigenous Women and Girls has It is our hope that this study will become a refer- been well reflected in the United Nations Decla- ence tool for the design of relevant public policies, ration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN- budgets and programs for and with Indigenous DRIP) and the Convention on the Elimination Women and Girls. Their inclusion is vital in order of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to reach those who are being left furthest behind, (CEDAW), which are interlocking frameworks for and to respond to the devastating effects of the change. Achieving this change requires consen- pandemic by building a better future. sus on the importance of protecting ancestral Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Executive Director UN Women 6 Our Journey, Our Voices! The Fourth World Conference on Women in Bei- Conference on Women in Mexico in 1975, where jing was a milestone for the coordination of indig- we were represented only by Domitila Chunga- enous women around the world. With the will to ra, we still have a long road ahead of us to be overcome our linguistic barriers and recognizing truly visible, and an even longer road to ensure ourselves in our diversity, the 150 indigenous that the States see us as protagonists of change women present in the “indigenous tent” built a and subjects of rights, with decision-making pow- common position1 to make visible our priorities er in international, national and local agendas. In and proposals as women and indigenous peoples. the context of Beijing+25, which coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and health, social and economic crisis, the full exer- Platform for Action, we have been strengthening cise of our collective and individual rights seems our organizations and influencing international an even more distant dream and, rather, we are mechanisms with our own voice, bringing pro- witnessing a worsening of the inequalities and the posals built on our realities, experiences and cul- multiple forms of violence that affect our peoples, tures, achieving significant progress in the formal territories, bodies and spirit. recognition of our rights and our contribution to sustainable development. However, the Political The path started by Domitila brings us the forma- Declaration adopted by the governments at the tion of regional networks lead by indigenous wom- 64th session of the Commission on the Status of en around the world, each one with their own face, Women2 demonstrates that more