Indigenous Women’s Rights enshrined in UNDRIP and CEDAW

Indigenous peoples are free and equal to all other peoples. Indigenous women are free and equal to all men and women. they have the right to be free from violence and any kind of discrimination in exercising their rights, in particular those based on their indigneous origin or identity. State must ensure that all women can enjoy the same human rights and fundamental freedoms as men in political, social, economic and cultural fields by passing laws to end discriminatory practices against women and ensuring those laws are enforced. (UNDRIP Articles 2, 22 & CEDAW Articles 1,2,3,15)

Equality among all peoples and between women and men

Indigenous peoples are free and equal to all other peoples. Indigenous women are free and equal to all men and women. they have the right to be free from violence and any kind of discrimination in exercising their rights, in particular those based on their indigneous origin or identity. State must ensure that all women can enjoy the same human rights and fundamental freedoms as men in political, social, economic and cultural fields by passing laws to end discriminatory practices against women and ensuring those laws are enforced. (UNDRIP Articles 2, 22 & CEDAW Articles 1,2,3,15)

Participation in decision making

Indigenous women have the right to participate in decision-makin gin matters that would affect their rights. States shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that women and men have equal rights to participate in politics and public affairs, and to represent their communities and countries. (UNDRIP Article 18 & CEDAW Articles 7,8)

Right to identity and nationality

Every indigenous woman has the right to a nationality and the right to belong to an indigneous community or a nation, in accordance with their traditions and customs of the community or nation concerned. States shall grant women equal rights with men to acquire, change or retain their nationality. Women shall not be forced to change nationality nor randered stateless due to marriage (UNDRIP Articles 6, 9 & CEDAW Article 9)

Secure lives free from violance

Indigenous women have rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person. States shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to stop all forms of trafficking of women and exploitation of prostitution of women. (UNDRIP Article 7 & CEDAW Article 6)

Access to education in own languages and culture

Indigenous women have rights to all levels and forms of state education without discrimination. They have the right to education in their own language and culture. Indigenous women should be able to share with future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies and literatures. States shall ensure that all women regardless of their ethnic origin and where they live – in cities or in villages – have the same access to education as men. Stereotyped ideas of male and female roles should be removed from educational materials and programmes. (UNDRIP Articles 13, 14 & CEDAW Article 10)

Equality in work, property and law

Indigenous women should have equal employment opportunities and benets, including social security and equal pay. States should act to elliminate discrimination so that indigenous women have all rights established under applicable international and domestic laws. Indigenous women have rights to property and to sign contracts. (CEDAW Articles 11, 15; UNDRIP Article 17)

Access to health care

Indigenous women have rights to all social and health services without discrimination. They should have equal standards of physical and mental health. They have rights to cultivate and use their traditional medicines. Indigenous women should be able to access adequate nutrition and healthcare services including family planning, pregnancy and birth care. States should take all necessary steps towards equality in health care. (CEDAW Article 12; UNDRIP Article 24)

Economic and social equality

States should take measures to improve the economic and social conditions of indigenous women. Indigenous women should have access to nancial credit, social security and participation in cultural life. They should participate in decision-making about community development, especially housing and education. As well as indigenous women, states must consider the rights and special needs of indigenous elders, youth, children and people with disabilities. (CEDAW Articles 13, 14; UNDRIP Articles 21, 22)

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