UNITED NATIONS — Indigenous women are disproportionately the victims and survivors of violence in conflict zones, and peace treaties must include clauses to protect this twice-marginalized population, a United Nations special investigator said Tuesday.
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the U.N. special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, painted a devastating picture of the plight of indigenous women in conflicts, where fighting often leaves indigenous people caught between opposing armies that disrespect their rights, and often use sexual violence as a weapon.
"Rape has been used as a common instrument to weaken the communities, and when conflict happens, women are the ones who stay in the communities," said Tauli-Corpuz, who is also an indigenous leader from the Kankanaey Igorot people of the Philippines.
"I have been to many communities where there are no men left, there are only women and children left — and therefore when the military comes, it is the women who ... suffer the brunt of their ire," she said.
While the situation varies from country to country, Tauli-Corpuz said indigenous people are often accused of siding with insurgents. When the conflict ends, indigenous people often fear that demobilized guerrillas will return to their areas and violate their land rights.
"We women are pushing the culture of peace, and not the culture of war."
Speaking at the 15th session of the U.N.'s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Tauli-Corpuz said she hoped that in the future, peace treaties could include clauses about the rights of women as well as the cultural and land rights of indigenous peoples.
She said treaties should also envision the creation of truth and reconciliation commissions in order to end the impunity that often exists, as well as provide mental health support for survivors of violence.
The few examples where indigenous people have been able to protect themselves in the crossfire, she continued, have usually involved them taking matters into their own hands, by kicking out insurgents seeking to occupy their native lands and persuading armies not to set up positions in their territories.
Rosalina Tuyuc, founder of the National Association of Guatemalan Widows (CONAVIGUA), said even when the war ends, the problems often don't.
"We women are pushing the culture of peace and not the culture of war, because it's not just about militarization," Tuyuc said.
"What also affects us is this economic vision of development that does not respect life, Mother Earth or culture. Many of our cultural rights are now being violated three times more than during the armed conflict," she said.
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