Addressing discrimination of indigenous women

Despite their enormous assets and contribution to society, indigenous women still suffer
from multiple discrimination, both as women and as indigenous individuals. They are
subjected to extreme poverty, trafficking, illiteracy, lack of access to ancestral lands,
non-existent or poor health care and to violence in the private and the public sphere.
This violence is exacerbated when indigenous communities find themselves in the midst
of conflict and women become the target of violence with political motives, when going
about their daily work, fetching wood or water for the family.
Available data reflects significant disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous
women’s access to social services, economic opportunities, and political participation.
The integrity and security of indigenous women’s ancestral lands, natural resources,
traditional livelihoods, languages, and cultures are also threatened by encroachment
and erosion.