There are 476 million indigenous inhabitants in the world, out of which 240 million are indigenous women.

Indigenous women are very diverse, they live in rural and urban areas in more than 90 countries across seven socio cultural regions, belonging to more than 5 000 different peoples, and speaking more than 4 000 languages. Together with their peoples, they inhabit the most diverse and unique ecosystems of our planet: savannahs, jungles, Arctic lands, mountains and plains, becoming holders of a great knowledge of their territories and their natural resources.  

For hundreds of years, indigenous women have played a fundamental role in preserving their peoples’ livelihoods, foods, ancestral knowledge, natural resources and their territory. They are the custodians of the medicinal plants, the guardians of the native seeds. They preserve biodiversity and transmit their unique knowledge to the youth.  Despite their wisdom and knowledge, systematic discrimination and lack of respect of their individual and collective rights, places them in situations of vulnerability.

FAO presents today Indigenous Women, daughters of Mother Earth, which portrays some of the main challenges that indigenous women face and acknowledges their contributions to the global debate on climate change and sustainable food systems.

Thanks to comments and reviews by indigenous women, this document is part of the Global Campaign for the Empowerment of Indigenous Women for Zero Hunger, identifying key actions to eliminate the barriers keeping indigenous women from unleashing their potential  and contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Download it here:  http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb0719en