4. Violence Against Indigenous Women

Violence against Indigenous women has been on an upward trend in countries like Bolivia, Australia, Canada, Mexico and Colombia, per the Global Pluralism Monitor report findings. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalized because of violence. In Bolivia, funding for safe housing for survivors of gender-based violence has not been prioritized in rural areas, rendering many Indigenous women vulnerable and with less access to social services. In Colombia, Indigenous women, particularly those that are social leaders, find themselves victims of sexual violence and femicides by both state and non-state actors. And in Mexico, Indigenous women are often dubbed the ‘invisible victims’ of femicides given that their socioeconomic status and Indigenous background warrant a lack of response from authorities.

Given that the Global Centre is based in Canada, it is important to take a moment to discuss the ongoing violence against Indigenous women that takes place here. Across Canada, Indigenous women are almost three times more likely to be violently victimized than non-Indigenous women, with perpetrators largely being male. The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls provided significant amounts of evidence of violence against Indigenous women, whether racialized or sexualized violence, happening at the hands of police authorities. This links back to one of the previous themes on lack of trust in institutions, as institutions can also be perpetrators of VAW.

For reconciliation, inclusion and pluralism to happen, Indigenous women must no longer be left behind. One aspect of building pluralist societies is to ensure that not only people that have been historically excluded, marginalized or oppressed due to their diversity have a seat at the table, but rather, that they also have a say in how the table is built and how the table is set. For this to happen, of course, trust must be built and in Canada, starting with the 94 Calls to Action for Reconciliation is the place to start.

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