2022 National Week of Action for MMIW
April 29 – May 5, 2022
Training series hosted by NIWRC
“The National Partners Work Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the MMIW Family Advisors are organizing a National Week of Action (April 29-May 5, 2022) to call the nation and the world to action in honor of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Take action by participating in these virtual events and organizing additional actions in your communities on and around May 5th. Join us in saying ‘enough is enough’—not one more stolen sister.
Note: Registering for the National Week of Action includes registration for all events, so you will have access to all events in one place.”
Register for the training series here and learn more here
National Briefing: Addressing the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)
Fri, Apr 29 2022, 1 – 2pm
“The current systemic response to violence against Native women is inadequate and the rate at which we are losing our women is devastating to our tribal communities and to the Nation as a whole. Insufficient resources and lack of clarity on jurisdictional responsibilities have exacerbated efforts to locate those who are missing. The federal Indian legal framework is complex and creates many barriers for victims and Tribes working to protect their citizens. Moreover, resources are scarce and culturally appropriate services are practically non-existent. Please join us as we listen to victim-survivors and family members, victim service providers, Tribal judges, and members of Congress discuss national policy issues and recommendations in support of Tribal Nations to enhance safety for Native women.”
Voices Rising: Uplifting Native Hawaiian Women Survivors and Victims Missing or Murdered
Mon, May 2 2022, 12 – 1:30pm
“Nā leo mana: Paepae ʻia Nā Wahine Maoli Nā mea ola o ka ʻino weliweli kūloko ʻohana pau pū me nā luapoʻi nalowale a i ʻole make
This webinar will give a voice to survivors, fallen victims, and their ohana as Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian Women remains a form of violence and oppression that was introduced and implemented by foreigners or non-Native Hawaiians to control and silence Native Hawaiian women. Furthermore, we will share how prostitution and sex trafficking negatively impacts the Hawaiian community by sexualizing cultural practices and viewing women as property, which is not a belief held by Native Hawaiians.”
Spotlight Alaska and the Crisis of MMIWG 2022
Tue, May 3 2022, 1 – 2:30pm
“A focused panel discussion led by Michelle Demmert on work being done to combat the current crisis of trafficking and MMIWG in Alaska. The panel will highlight AKNWRC’s partnerships with organizations and the collective work they do together utilizing each other’s strengths. We will look at AKNWRC’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: An Action Plan for Alaska Native Communities. The spotlight will also look at state and federal law and policy that affect the crisis of MMIWG and innovative work happening in Alaska.”
Using International Law to Respond to VAIW and the MMIWG Crisis
Wed, May 4 2022, 11am – 12:30pm
“The MMIW crisis in America is not just the result of the failures of our criminal justice system, it is a result of systemic violations of indigenous women’s human rights. The presentation will review the international legal framework applicable to MMIW and other forms of violence committed against indigenous women. We will look closely at the two key human rights instruments that are specific to indigenous peoples—the UN and American Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Both Declarations create minimum legal standards and obligations that countries must observe in their dealings with indigenous peoples. The rights affirmed in these Declarations include the right of self-determination, rights to lands and resources, and the right of indigenous women and children to be protected against violence. We will also discuss how recent actions by the UN Human Rights Council recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment can impact our work in this field. Finally, the session will share information about the work Native women, tribes, and organizations have done using the international and regional human rights systems to advance indigenous women’s rights and offer information about how you can get involved in these efforts.”
Thu, May 5 2022, 1 – 2:30pm
“In some tribal communities, American Indian women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average. In responding to this national crisis, we recognize systemic barriers that exacerbate efforts to locate missing victims for families, communities, and tribal nations. Over the last decade, awareness of MMIW as a national issue has increased, but more must be done to stop disappearances and save lives.
By learning from the experiences of surviving family members of MMIW, the movement can work to achieve the reforms needed to safeguard the lives of Indigenous women and strengthen the authority of Indian nations to protect their citizens