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Addressee: United Nations System, Member States
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In the context of the United Nations system-wide coherence, in particular gender equality architecture reform, the Permanent Forum recommends that States and the United Nations system ensure the inclusion of the priorities and demands of indigenous women.
Responses
Finland reports (2010): In its work to counter discrimination against indigenous peoples, Finland will continue to pay particular attention to the status of women and girls belonging to indigenous peoples. Finland strongly supports the consolidation of the four existing gender entities into a composite entity and looks forward to a operationalization of the reform during the 64th session of the General Assembly. It is of great importance to include the demands of indigenous women in future work on gender equality. In its international human rights policy, Finland has drawn attention to such issues as discrimination based on multiple grounds against women and girls. This includes indigenous peoples. The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women has expressed its concern at the continuing discrimination against Sámi women, who suffer from double discrimination based on both their sex and ethnic background. The situation has been targeted by the Government by focusing on the development of social and health services in Sámi language. Earmarked financial support is also given to municipalities in the Sámi Homeland in order to launch new programmes, services and supportive measures for the Sámi people in the social and health field. An implementation programme is drawn up together with the Sámi Council. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Sámi Parliament continue to discuss various matters, such as the implementation of the CEDAW Recommendations. In 2008 the Ombudsman for Children, working in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, published her study on the opinions and experiences of Sámi children and young people aged 13 to 18 regarding their well-being. The study showed that young Sámi boys and girls have the same concerns as other children. Most young Sámi girls, similarly as boys, regard their Sámi ethnicity as very positive and have a strong Sámi identity. Spain reports (E/C.19/2010/12/Add.9) that the Spanish Strategy for Cooperation with Indigenous Peoples provides for various strategic approaches and priority activities that specifically support indigenous women’s organizations in communities and the full empowerment of indigenous women. The Strategy also provides for the implementation of policies in support of indigenous women in terms of organization; sex education, sexual and reproductive health, measures to combat sexual violence, finance and any other areas relevant to overcoming inequality in rights. Therefore, all development-related activities financed by the Spanish Government targeting indigenous peoples must include a gender perspective that will allow indigenous women to participate fully.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 8 (2009)
Area of Work
