Native American & Alaska Native Women Suffering Shocking Rates of Rape
From Amnesty International...
May 12, 2007
As we prepare to celebrate Mother's Day, I wanted to tell you about our current campaign to stop violence against Native American and Alaska Native women.
A couple of weeks ago, the findings of Amnesty's report exposing the US government's failure to protect Indigenous women from shocking rates of rape made headlines across the country.
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=kmK3JgMYIlJZJpL&s=kiLML0OMJjKUL7OTG&m=doLNJYMAKfLSG
Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the US. More than one in three Native American or Alaska Native women will be raped at some point in their lives.
But why are Native American and Alaska Native women at such risk of sexual violence? A complex maze of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions created by the U.S. government often allows perpetrators to rape with impunity and in some cases even encourages assaults.
According to Pauline Musgrove, the Executive Director of the Spirits of Hope Coalition, "women don't report because it doesn't make a difference. Why report when you are just going to be revictimized?"
For example, Native American and Alaska Native women often: - Do not get timely – or any – response from the police. - May not get forensic medical examinations. - May never see their cases prosecuted.
We believe those abuses can and must be stopped, that's why we are launching a campaign to address the critical human rights abuses documented in this report and joining the work of the many Native American and Alaska Native organizations and advocates who have been at the forefront of efforts to protect and respect the rights of women.
Right now we have a real chance to make a difference: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has a section called the Tribal Title IX, which seeks to improve safety and justice for Native American and Alaska Native women. By urging Congress to support VAWA and the Tribal Title IX we can significantly impact federal efforts to address sexual violence against Indigenous women in the US.
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=coJMIXNwFcJKJ1K&s=kiLML0OMJjKUL7OTG&m=doLNJYMAKfLSG
Join voices with Native American and Alaska Native women and take action to stop the violence.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Zaynab NawazWomen's Human Rights Campaigner
Amnesty International USA
PS: Got 3 minutes? Watch our slide show to learn more about violence against Native American and Alaska Native women and what you can do to stop it.
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... 86% of reported assaults are perpetrated by non-native men.
May 12, 2007
As we prepare to celebrate Mother's Day, I wanted to tell you about our current campaign to stop violence against Native American and Alaska Native women.
A couple of weeks ago, the findings of Amnesty's report exposing the US government's failure to protect Indigenous women from shocking rates of rape made headlines across the country.
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=kmK3JgMYIlJZJpL&s=kiLML0OMJjKUL7OTG&m=doLNJYMAKfLSG
Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the US. More than one in three Native American or Alaska Native women will be raped at some point in their lives.
But why are Native American and Alaska Native women at such risk of sexual violence? A complex maze of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions created by the U.S. government often allows perpetrators to rape with impunity and in some cases even encourages assaults.
According to Pauline Musgrove, the Executive Director of the Spirits of Hope Coalition, "women don't report because it doesn't make a difference. Why report when you are just going to be revictimized?"
For example, Native American and Alaska Native women often: - Do not get timely – or any – response from the police. - May not get forensic medical examinations. - May never see their cases prosecuted.
We believe those abuses can and must be stopped, that's why we are launching a campaign to address the critical human rights abuses documented in this report and joining the work of the many Native American and Alaska Native organizations and advocates who have been at the forefront of efforts to protect and respect the rights of women.
Right now we have a real chance to make a difference: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has a section called the Tribal Title IX, which seeks to improve safety and justice for Native American and Alaska Native women. By urging Congress to support VAWA and the Tribal Title IX we can significantly impact federal efforts to address sexual violence against Indigenous women in the US.
http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=coJMIXNwFcJKJ1K&s=kiLML0OMJjKUL7OTG&m=doLNJYMAKfLSG
Join voices with Native American and Alaska Native women and take action to stop the violence.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Zaynab NawazWomen's Human Rights Campaigner
Amnesty International USA
PS: Got 3 minutes? Watch our slide show to learn more about violence against Native American and Alaska Native women and what you can do to stop it.
-------------
... 86% of reported assaults are perpetrated by non-native men.
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