There are approximately 185 million Indigenous Women in the world, belonging to more than 5,000 different Indigenous Peoples. They are the daughters of Mother Earth and some of the world’s guardians of biodiversity.
Indigenous Women are the backbone of Indigenous Peoples' communities and play a crucial role in the preservation of food security. They also have a fundamental collective and community role as guardians of Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems, having been traditionally carers of natural resources and managers of seeds and medicinal plants.
Despite Indigenous Women's crucial role in ending hunger and malnutrition is widely recognized internationally, their rights are still not fully acknowledged and exercised. Empowering Indigenous Women is not only essential but also a prerequisite to achieve Zero Hunger, making it vital to raise awareness about their valuable contributions and involve all stakeholders in eliminating barriers that hinder their full enjoyment of rights.
Key Messages
Indigenous Women are key allies in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Recognizing and making their social and economic role visible is fundamental to achieve food security.
Indigenous Women are food producers, guardians of native seeds and custodians of traditional knowledge. With their sustainable livelihoods, Indigenous Women contribute to the achievement of Zero Hunger.
Empowering Indigenous Women is the answer to poverty reduction. Through their empowerment, Indigenous Women are leading social and economic changes that foster sustainable development in accord with their own cultures and identities.
Even when facing triple discrimination because of being women, Indigenous and poor, Indigenous Women have demonstrated their leadership and capacities to be agents of change for dignified lives.
Indigenous Women are defenders of natural resources, lands and territories. They hold an intimate connection with the territories they inhabit and consider themselves the first guardians of mother earth. As such they are leading the protection of Indigenous Peoples' territories worldwide.
Integrating the gender and Indigenous Peoples’ dimension in public policy is fundamental to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to leave no one behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the needs and challenges of Indigenous Women must be reflected in policies for rural development and poverty reduction, and count with their full and effective participation.