National conference of Indigenous women set for March in Brazil

By Ana Cláudia Leocádio – From Cenarium

BRASÍLIA (DF) – The Ministers of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, and of Women, Aparecida Gonçalves, announced on January 7th, the 1st National Conference of Indigenous Women, to be held in Brasília from March 8 to 11 of this year. According to Joint Ordinance No. 3, published in the Official Gazette, the central theme of this first Conference will be “Women Guardians of the Planet for the Healing of the Earth.”

Organized by the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples and Women, the 1st National Conference of Indigenous Women will be preceded by seven territorial pre-conferences across Brazil’s six biomes (Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa, Pantanal, Amazon, and Atlantic Forest).

These pre-conferences were initially scheduled to begin on November 25, 2024, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and are expected to conclude by February 15. The ordinance notes that some dates may be adjusted if necessary.

Additionally, the document states that the event may also be preceded by free conferences, which can be virtual or in-person, as well as thematic free conferences. The expenses for the conference will be covered by the budgets of the Ministry of Women and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, with the possibility of partnerships and sponsorships to aid in its execution.

When the two ministers announced this first Indigenous Women’s Conference in November 2024, they mentioned that the preparatory work would include working groups and discussion circles. “Participants will collaborate on reflections and collective proposals for policies. Regional documents, with contributions and demands from different territories, will culminate in decisions to be announced at the national stage”, they emphasized.

Sonia Guajajara explained at the time that one of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ goals is to increase Indigenous participation in various spheres. “In Brazil’s history, Indigenous women have been deeply marginalized. As a woman currently holding a public office, I know firsthand the challenges we face. There are barriers that hinder our access to many spaces—not just in our territories but also in politics, decision-making arenas, and other environments”, stated the minister.

For the Minister of Women, Cida Gonçalves, the conference represents a unique opportunity for inclusion and social participation in developing public policies for Indigenous women. “Often, the way the State structures its policies does not fit the realities of Indigenous peoples. Therefore, it’s necessary to design each process and stage in dialogue with those who will be served, understanding their needs to address challenges effectively. In the case of policies for preventing violence against women, for instance, domestic violence policies were conceived for homes that are not like Indigenous villages. We need to account for every unique reality,” said Gonçalves.

Cooperation Agreement Enabled the Event

According to the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples and Women, this national conference results from a Technical Cooperation Agreement signed between the ministries in 2023 in Brasília, during the conclusion of the 3rd March of Indigenous Women.

A Working Group was established to include Indigenous women in the “Guardians Project,” which promotes public policies for preventing, confronting, and eradicating gender-based violence experienced by Indigenous women, both inside and outside their territories. Brazil is home to 305 Indigenous peoples across its six biomes.

One of the proposals is to create the Indigenous Women’s House, a specialized support space for violence cases, in each Brazilian biome. The federal government already operates a general support policy for women victims of violence through the Women’s House of Brazil initiative.

Specialized care protocols are also being developed to consider the territorial and cultural realities of Indigenous communities, according to the ministries.

Pre-conference Locations

• LIMÃO VERDE Indigenous Land, AMAMBAI (MS)
  AROEIRA (Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, and Federal District)
  Organization: Kuñangue Aty Guasu
• CURITIBA (PR)
  ARAUCÁRIA (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina)
  Organization: Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the South (Arpinsul) and Guarani Yvyrupa Commission (CGY)
• PAULO AFONSO (BA)
  JUREMA (Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, and northern Bahia)
  Organization: Articulation of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations of the Northeast, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo (Apoinme) and its Department of Indigenous Women; Unified Movement of Peoples and Organizations of Bahia
• KATUKINA/KAXINAWÁ Indigenous Land
  SUMAÚMA Territory (Acre, Roraima, Amazonas, and Mato Grosso)
  Organization: Sitoakore (organization of Indigenous peoples of Acre, southern Amazonas, and northwestern Rondônia) and Union of Indigenous Women of the Brazilian Amazon (UMIAB)
• PORTO VELHO (RO)
  CASTANHEIRA Territory (Rondônia, Pará, Maranhão, Amapá, and Tocantins)
  Organization: Association of Indigenous Warriors of Rondônia (Agir) and Union of Indigenous Women of the Brazilian Amazon (UMIAB)
• PIAÇAGUERA Territory (SP)
  SAPOPEMA Territory (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo)
  Organization: Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the Southeast Region (Arpinsudeste) and Guarani Yvyrupa Commission (CGY)
• BAÍA DA TRAIÇÃO (PB)
  MANGABEIRA Territory (Paraíba, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, and southern Bahia)
  Organization: Council of Indigenous Women of Paraíba, Articulation of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations of the Northeast, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo (Apoinme) and its Department of Indigenous Women.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves