Indigenous women have always been actively involved in the struggles for the rights of indigenous peoples at the local, national and international levels. In recognition of this role, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues devoted its third session (2004) to a discourse on the unique contributions made by indigenous women within their families, communities and nations.

The Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality, at its February 2004 session, decided to establish a Task Force on Indigenous Women as a follow-up to recommendations emanating from the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at its third session.

The publication offers an overview of the work of the Task Force on Indigenous Women of the Inter- Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANGWE). In 2005-2006, the Task Force collected 18 cases studies submitted by SCBD, FAO, IFAD, ILO, UNFPA, UNIFEM and UNDP about their work with indigenous women in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The publication entitled “Indigenous Women and the United Nations System” will be launched during the Sixth Session of the Forum. Following the Forum’s call for wide dissemination of good practices, the collection will be disseminated widely so that it may serve as a practical tool for future work of the UN system and other organizations engaging with indigenous peoples.

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