(Jan. - Feb.) You called, you wrote letters, you signed petitions, and you helped to raise awareness about the epidemic of violence against Native women. On March 7, 2013, President Barack Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA 2013). Together, we successfully positioned violence against women as a human rights crisis.
(March) Through your donations and support, the Center brought Maya Q’eqchi’ leaders from the Agua Caliente community in Guatemala to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. leaders and members of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They were able to draw attention to the serious human rights violations they face every day.
(April) The Center marked its 35th anniversary. Founded in 1978 by Robert T. Coulter, the Center has worked to protect the rights of indigenous peoples in North, Central, and South America. We’ve achieved many victories and we are grateful for your support that made them possible.
(May) We presented the recommendations of 72 Indigenous nations and 10 organizations to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Collectively, we called for the creation of a mechanism to help implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; action to address violence against indigenous women; and a permanent status for indigenous peoples at the United Nations.
(May) As a result of the Center’s strong advocacy regarding the World Bank’s safeguard policies, the Forum held an unprecedented dialogue among the World Bank, regional development banks, state representatives and indigenous participants from around the world. The session looked at the degree to which these financing institutions respect the rights of indigenous peoples in their development activities.
(June) Gross human rights violations of indigenous peoples in Guatemala prompted the Center to write Secretary of State John Kerry urging for U.S. attention. Kerry responded with a letter echoing our concerns and addressed the issues of human rights when he met with the Guatemalan president in June.
(Sept.) On the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and 90 years after Chief Deskaheh of the Six Nations Confederacy first went to Geneva, we once again stood before the UN Human Rights Council asking for concrete measures to protect indigenous rights.
(Oct.) We successfully took on an issue that could affect the sovereignty and self-determination of all tribes in the United States. By stopping a BIA sanctioned vote, we helped Timbisha Shoshone leaders preserve their right to determine tribal membership.
(Oct.) We celebrated progress in October when the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) agreed to launch an investigation into a project in Oaxaca, Mexico, that is negatively impacting indigenous peoples. The move shows that our diligent work to improve policies of development banks is beginning to result in change.
(Dec.) In partnership with the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, we launched a video campaign to raise awareness and help end violence against Native women. Many of you watched and shared these stories and joined in on the conversation. Thank you for your help in protecting Native women.
