Background

The Task Force on Indigenous Women (TFIW) was initiated on 11 June 2004 following a decision of the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANGWE) at its February 2004 session and the recommendations of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues1 (UNPFII) at its Third (2004) Session regarding indigenous women. The TFIW was formed with the purpose to integrate and strengthen gender mainstreaming as regards indigenous women’s roles and the special concerns of indigenous women as an emerging key issue in the work of the United Nations system

Terms of Reference

The goal of the Task Force in Indigenous Women is to integrate and strengthen gender mainstreaming as regards indigenous women’s roles and the special concerns of indigenous women as an emerging key issue in the work of the UN system, taking into account the recommendations of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at its Third Session (E/2004/43).

The objectives are categorized as short- medium or long-term, keeping in mind the potential of the Task Force to extend its work beyond 2005, if the IANWGE renews its mandate.

Short-term objectives (by February 2005)

1. Definition/identification and inventory of mandates of IANWGE members
2. Provide an overview of programmes/activities focusing on indigenous women which are already being carried out by agencies
3. Identify a strategy and a work plan to mainstream indigenous women’s issues in UN agencies

4. Identify successful interventions/good examples and disseminate this information

5. Follow-up on specific recommendations of the UNPFII
   The Permanent Forum has identified a number of activities that require the concerted action of the UN system. The Task Force is well-placed to pursue these concerted activities. One of these important recommendations is the convening of a workshop on “Migration of Indigenous Women”, a subject of sorely needed action.
6. Produce practical tools

• practical tools, such as a checklist of items to be considered in UN programming that makes sure that indigenous women’s issues are mainstreamed,
• a review of existing gender-training tools on the UN system, examining to what extent indigenous women’s issues are covered, and suggesting ways of covering gaps,
• an awareness-raising/training video and
• other useful tools.

Members

UN Members (gender focal points and water focal points):
CBD
Department of Public Information
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
- Division for the Advancement of Women
- Office of the Senior Adviser on Gender Issues
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

Non-UN organizations:
Commonwealth Secretariat

Methods of Work

The task force is managed by the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues/DSPD/DESA (SPFII) based in New York. An email listing of members will be used for consultation and information sharing. New York-based members may meet periodically with teleconferencing for European-based and other members

Contacts

Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou
Chief, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
stamatopoulou@un.org

Ms. Mirian Masaquiza
Associate Social Affairs Officer
Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
masaquiza@un.org

Related Links

Link to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues