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http://www.amnesty.ca/resource_centre/news/view.php?load=arcview&article=4696&c=Resource+Centre+News
Joint
Statement to the Summit of the Americas:
The
Lives of Indigenous Women and Girls Matter
Our message to the governments of the Americas
is simple: the lives of Indigenous women and girls matter.
Centuries of oppression and dispossession have denied the First Peoples of this
hemisphere their fundamental human rights including rights to
self-determination, culture, livelihood, health, economic development and
security of the person.
In the midst of widespread marginalization, impoverishment and violent
persecution, the Indigenous women of the Americas face an additional burden of
gender discrimination and stereotyping that puts them at even greater risk of
human rights violations.
Throughout the region, Indigenous women must struggle to provide for families
whose means of subsistence and way of life has been torn apart by attacks on
their cultures, destruction of the natural environment and the militarization
of their lands.
Far too many Indigenous women also face devastatingly high levels of violence
at the hands of their spouses and families, violent predators from the dominant
society, and government forces and armed groups.
These same women must contend with discriminatory laws, policies and practices
which deny them a meaningful role in decisions vital to their safety and
well-being.
Entrenched discrimination and public indifference also deny Indigenous women
adequate protection through the justice system and the assistance they need to
escape poverty and violence.
Even in the wealthiest countries in the Americas, it has been clearly
documented that discrimination and marginalization have put Indigenous women in
much greater risk of violence than other women.1
Today, we are at an important historical juncture in the long struggle for the
human rights of Indigenous peoples. The adoption of the UN Declaration of the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2007 established minimum, universally
applicable standards for the “survival, dignity and well-being of the
indigenous peoples of the world.” Many states in the Americas are now engaged
in discussion with Indigenous peoples on how to makes these commitments a
reality.
As organizations and individuals committed to the principles of human rights
for all, we believe that ending violence and discrimination against Indigenous
women should be an urgent priority for all governments in the Americas as they
seek to fulfil their responsibilities toward Indigenous peoples.
On the occasion of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, we call on all governments
in the region to publicly declare their commitment to working with Indigenous
women to ensure effective protections for their rights, including:
1.
Amnesty International 2007. Maze
of Injustice – The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in
the USA and Amnesty International 2004. Stolen
Sisters: Discrimination and Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada
International Indigenous Women's Forum (FIMI)
Amnesty International
International Indian Treaty Council
Native Women's Association of Canada
Indigenous Women's Network (USA and Canada)
Native Women’s Advocacy Center, Inc. (USA)
Wayu Women Force (Colombia)
Consejo de Todas las Tierras (Chile)
Consejo Coordinador Nacional Indigena Salvadoreno (El Salvador)
Santa Lucia Indigenous Peoples (St. Lucia)
Juventud organizada par Vivir en equilbrio con Nanaguadole (Panama)
Wara Instituto Indigena (Brazil)
American Indian Women’s Service League
Americans for Indian Opportunity
Mesa Nacional Indigena de Costa Rica
Red de Mujeres Indigenas sobre Biodiversidad de A.L.C. (Panama)
National Garifuna Council Belize
U-Kuxtal Masewal (The Maya Institute of Belize)
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