USA: Stop sexual violence against Indigenous women-A Comprehensive Report by Amnesty International

by Amnesty International ŠAmnesty International
Tuesday Apr 24th, 2007 11:35 AM

Graphic Created by Evening Rain April 2007

This report is of vital importance. It was prepared by Amnesty International and My Two Beads Worth created it in its entirety in a pdf format. The report itself is 39 pages, but My Two Beads Worth created a graphic (the one you see above) to incorporate into the pdf file.

This is the introduction comment in the beginning of the report:

Acknowledgements

Amnesty International is indebted to all the survivors of sexual violence who courageously came forward to share their stories and to those who provided support to survivors before and after they spoke with Amnesty Intemational.

This report seeks to represent the voices of survivors of sexual violence and is underpinned by a conviction that their perspectives must inform all actions taken to end violence against Indigenous women.

Amnesty International is grateful to Native American and Alaska Native organizations, experts and individuals who provided advice and guidance on research methodology for this report and on the report itself, and who have generously shared information. This report cannot provide a full picture of the important and innovative work Indigenous women are carrying out to end sexual violence. However, we hope that it reflects how Indigenous women all over the USA are working with determination and hope for a future where their dignity and security are respected.

Amnesty International hopes that this report can contribute to and support the work of the many Native American and Alaska Native women's organizations and activists who have been at the forefront of efforts to protect and serve women. In 2005 these efforts resulted in Congress passing the Violence Against Women Act (2005) which for the first time contains a specific Tribal Title that seeks to improve safety and justice for Native American and Alaska Native women (see page 82). By supporting initiatives developed and directed by Indigenous women , Amnesty International seeks to provide an additional platform for discussion about sexual violence against Indigenous women.

Preface

This study

This report is based on research carried out during 2005 and 2006 by Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in consultation with Native American and Alaska Native organizations and individuals. The research draws on Amnesty International's interviews with survivors of sexual violence and their families. activists, support workers, service providers and health workers. A number of women spoke to Amnesty International on condition that their anonymity was guaranteed. Some have asked that certain details not be made public. In order to respect their wishes. details of names and locations on file with Amnesty International have been withheld.

Amnesty International also interviewed officials across the USA, including tribal. state and federal law enforcement officials and prosecutors, as well as tribal judges. Amnesty International met representatives from the federal agencies which share responsibility with tribal authorities for addressing or responding to crimes in Indian Country (defined as reservations, trust land. and communities) 1. Amnesty International sent questionnaires to the 93 individual US Attorneys, who prosecute crimes within Indian Country at federal level, seeking information on prosecution rates for crimes of sexual violence committed against Indigenous women . Amnesty International was informed by the Executive Office of US Attorneys that individual US attorneys would not be permitted to participate in the survey.

Amnesty International conducted a review of existing government and non-governmental reports , including studies conducted by the US Department of Justice, law review articles and media reports of sexual violence against Native American and Alaska Native women. It also reviewed federal and state case law and legislation.

Amnesty International conducted detailed research in three locations with different policing and judicial arrangements (see Chapter 4: Issues of jurisdiction): the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North and South Dakota, the State of Oklahoma and the State of Alaska. Each location was selected for its specific jurisdictional characteristics. The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation illustrates the challenges involved in policing a vast, rural reservation where tribal and federal authorities have jurisdiction. Oklahoma presents a very different situation, composed for the most part of parcels of tribal lands intersected.

Link to Report

Complete Report from Amnesty International in pdf format

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