September 5, 2024 – We stand here today, at the Sixth Convening of the Trilateral Working Group on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls in Mexico City, united in a powerful display of solidarity and determination. With representatives from Canada, the United States, and Mexico, this meeting marks a crucial moment in our shared commitment to championing the rights and safety of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more (2SLGBTQIA+) individuals.
The Trilateral Group on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls (TWG) was born out of the 8th North American Leaders Summit (NALS) in June 2016, where Canada, the United States, and Mexico united to address the alarming rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls as a pressing regional issue. This initiative underscores our collective dedication to fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices across the regions, grounded in a rights-based approach.
Within the TWG, we have established a steadfast commitment to preventing and responding to violence targeting Indigneous women and girls, and gender-diverse individuals. Through our collaborative efforts, our shared goal is to strengthen national and regional commitments by sharing information on policies, programs, and practices to address gender-based violence Indigenous communities in North America.
Our approach prioritizes increased access to justice and services with a human rights and culturally responsive intersectional lens. Our work will center around counteracting government policy that continues to detrimentally impact our inherent rights, sovereignty, and self-determination.
We recognize that Indigenous women, girls, children, youth and gender diverse people are individual rights´ holders. They possess inherent rights that must be respected, upheld, and protected.
In exercising our self-determination and through the utilization of our inherent rights as Indigenous peoples, we– the Indigenous leaders– will be having quarterly meetings, with the United States´ Indigenous leaders hosting the first session on January 15, 2025, and providing Zoom translation services to ensure inclusivity.
Pauktuutit President Nancy Etok reads the statement at the Sixth Convening of the Trilateral Working Group on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls in Mexico City.
Furthermore, we demand that all governments develop robust policies surrounding extractive industries. Where extractive industries exist, despite our robust opposition and belief that this violates our rights as Indigenous rights holders, we demand that all governments establish an independent ombudspersons to address grievances and advocate for appropriate conduct. It is critical to develop a framework for an adjudicatory body, recognizing the need for timely investigation and resolution and legal reform.
It is imperative that we confront the exploitation of our lands by industries, where employees engage in predatory behavior towards Indigenous women, girls, youth, children and gender-diverse peoples without facing accountability. We call upon the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, girls, youth, children and gender-diverse people to scrutinize the compliance of transnational corporations with requirements when operating in or around Indigenous communities. This report will serve as a focal point of discussion at our next Trilateral meeting on promising and wise practices.
With unwavering resolve and collective commitment to justice, we stand united in our mission to create a future where Indigenous rights are honored, respected, upheld, and protected.
Together, we will forge a path towards a world where all Indigenous women, girls, youth, children and gender-diverse individuals are valued, heard, seen, healthy, loved, safe, secure and empowered.
We call on all three governments to respond by November 25, 2024 to the previous Trilateral working group demands from years 2016-2024 (year by year) in the following form:
- A matrix showing each of the demands by year
- With corresponding information demonstrating how each of the governments has responded to the demands of this group and
- Including both resources developed and future plans for sustaining any efforts made to respond to the requests of this trilateral working group.
For media inquiries please contact:
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada: communications@Pauktuutit.ca
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Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada is the national non-profit organization representing all Inuit women in Canada. Its mission is to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women and gender-diverse people to encourage their participation in community, regional and national concerns in relation to social, cultural and economic development.