A/HRC/50/26
I. Introduction
1.
The present report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes
and consequences, Reem Alsalem, is submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to its
resolution 41/17. In the report, the Special Rapporteur addresses the theme of gender-based
violence against indigenous women and girls. With the report, she intends to shed light on
the specific manifestations of violence against indigenous women and girls, which have in
most cases extended across generations; to explore their connections to other human rights
violations that affect indigenous peoples, and indigenous women and girls in particular, and
to provide guidance for States and other stakeholders on the measures needed to further
prevent and combat violence against indigenous women and girls in the context of their
international human rights obligations.
2.
In preparing the report, the Special Rapporteur sought contributions from Member
States, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, nongovernmental organizations, indigenous organizations and communities and other
stakeholders. She is grateful to all those who submitted a response and shared their
testimonies.1 The Special Rapporteur is also grateful to the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for hosting an online consultation on 7 March 2022
with Latin American indigenous women and girls who are leaders and activists.
II. Activities undertaken by the Special Rapporteur
3.
In July 2021, Ms. Alsalem was appointed by the Human Rights Council as Special
Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences for a three-year term,
which she started on 1 August 2021.
4.
In the first five months, the Special Rapporteur, as part of a series of introductory
meetings, engaged with many parts of the United Nations system and with several affiliated
funds, programmes and specialized agencies. On 21 September 2021, the Special Rapporteur
held the first of four thematic consultations with various stakeholders; the second, third and
fourth consultations were held on 23, 27 and 29 September 2021, respectively.
5.
On 5 October 2021, the Special Rapporteur addressed the General Assembly to
present the last report prepared under the tenure of the previous mandate holder, 2 in which
the previous mandate holder had taken stock of two of the initiatives pursued under the
mandate, namely, the femicide watch initiative and the Platform of Independent Expert
Mechanisms on the Elimination of Discrimination and Violence against Women. 3 The
Special Rapporteur also presented her own vision for the mandate for the coming three years.
6.
On 14 March 2022, the Special Rapporteur delivered a statement at the opening
meeting of the sixty-sixth session of the Commission of the Status of Women, in New York,
and was co-organizer of three side events.
III. Introduction: gender-based violence against indigenous
women and girls
7.
Indigenous women and girls face complex and intersectional forms of violence, linked
to patriarchal structures, racial and ethnic discrimination and socioeconomic status. Evidence
from various countries shows that indigenous women have been particularly exposed to
serious forms of gender-based violence, such as forced sterilization; trafficking and sexual
1
2
3
2
A total of 65 submissions were received for the report. They can be found at
https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/calls-input/call-inputs-report-violence-against-indigenouswomen-and-girls.
A/76/132.
For more information, see
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/SRWomen/Pages/CooperationGlobalRegionalMechanisms
.aspx.