16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence
Within 16 days, Native American and Alaska Native rape survivors can begin receiving the care and treatment they deserve. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the principle and in some areas, sole provider of health services for Native American and Alaska Native people. Despite its prevalence, IHS continues to lack consistent protocols and resources for treating sexual assault survivors. Join the "16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence" campaign and help break down the barriers for Indigenous women overcoming crisis.
New action on Maze of Injustice
During the 16 days between November 25th, International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women, and December 10th, International Human Rights Day, the call to eliminate all forms of violence against women will reach a fever pitch. Women's rights advocates from around the world will be taking action to highlight the violation of women's rights as an abuse of human rights.
The violence in the U.S. against Indigenous women is particularly astounding. Sexual violence against Native American and Alaska Native women is 2.5 times more likely to occur in comparison to other women in the U.S. IHS facilities often lack access to the very basic services provided to survivors of rape such as testing for sexually-transmitted infection, pregnancy testing, emergency contraception, and culturally-appropriate support services. In addition, our Maze of Injustice report highlights that many IHS facilities are not clinically or educationally equipped to handle the trauma linked to rape and sexual assault.
During the "16 Days" of action, demand that the IHS:
Provides free access to sexual assault examinations, known as "rape kits"
Adopts and implements standardized policies for treating survivors of rape and sexual assault developed in coordination with Indigenous women's rights defenders
Conducts all examinations by well-trained sexual assault nurse professionals
In 16 Days, you can help build the bridge from hurt to healing.
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Maze of Injustice – The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA
Maze of Injustice: Sexual Assault against Native American and Alaska Native Women
More than one in three Native American or Alaska Native women will be raped at some point in their lives. Most do not seek justice because they know they will e met with inaction or indifference. Sexual violence against women is not only a criminal or social issue; it is a human rights abuse. As a consequence, Indigenous women are being denied justice. And the perpetrators are going unpunished.
Recent Success!
Inslee-Burton Amendment to VAWA: Amnesty International USA worked with Members of Congress in drafting and promoting this amendment to the proposed FY08 VAWA appropriations bill. On July 25, 2007 the amendment passed overwhelmingly. It provides $1 million for the creation of tribal sex offender and protection order registries to identify serial perpetrators. It also allots $1million for a baseline study on sexual violence committed against Indigenous women in the US.
Another action!
"Before asking 'what happened' police ask: 'Was it in our jurisdiction? Was the perpetrator Native American?" - Support worker for Native American survivors of sexual violence, May 2005
Women who come forward to report sexual violence are caught in a maze of tribal, state, and federal law. The US federal government has created a complex interrelation between these three jurisdictions that is confusing and often allows perpetrators to evade justice. Sometimes, the confusion and the length of time it takes to decide who has jurisdiction over a particular crime results in inadequate investigations or in a failure to respond at all.
Please write to the Executive Office of US Attorneys within the Department of Justice, raising the following points:
- AI's research in the report Maze of Injustice - The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA found that there is a failure at the federal level to adequately pursue cases of sexual violence against Native American and Alaska Native women.
- To determine the causes and solution to the problem of low rates of prosecution for crimes of sexual violence committed against Native American and Alaska Native women, all US Attorneys must immediately compile and publish data on the number of cases of sexual violence of Native American and Alaska Native women referred for prosecution, the number declined and the reasons for declining these cases.
Write to:
Mr. Kenneth E. Melson, Director
Executive Office for United States Attorneys
US Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 2242
Washington, DC 20520-0001
For more information on this and other actions in AIUSA's SVAW campaign, visit amnestyusa.org/women
Past Alert on this issue: Maze of Injustice – The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA
Amnesty International USA is the US section of AI - the international worldwide human rights organization with 1.8 million members in 100 countries. AIUSA has over 350,000 members organized into professional networks, and student and community chapters. You can find out which of our administrative regions you live in and contact our offices if you wish to join a local chapter visit www.amnestyusa.org. You can join the SVAW campaign, get our monthly women’s human rights online bulletin and join the Women's Human Rights Action Network by visiting www.amnestyusa.org/women. We look forward to working with you.
