Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, painted a devastating picture of the plight of indigenous women in conflicts, where fighting often leaves indigenous people caught between opposing armies that tend to disrespect their rights and often use sexual violence as a weapon.
"Rape has been used as a common instrument to weaken the communities and when conflict happens, women are the ones who stay in the communities. I have been to many communities where there are no men left, there are only women and children left and therefore when the military comes it is the women who are the ones who suffer the brunt of their ire," said Tauli-Corpuz, who is also an indigenous leader from the Kankanaey Igorot people of the Philippines
Speaking at the 15th Session of the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Tauli-Corpuz said she hoped that in the future peace treaties could include clauses about the rights of women as well as the cultural and land rights of indigenous peoples.
She said treaties should also envision the creation of truth and reconciliation commissions in order to end the impunity that often exists, as well as provide mental health support for victims of violence.
Rosalina Tuyuc, founder of the National Association of Guatemalan Widows, said even when the war ends the problems often don't.
"We women are pushing the culture of peace and not the culture of war because it's not just about militarisation. What also affects us is this economic vision of development that does not respect life, Mother Earth or culture. Many of our cultural rights are now being violated three times more than during the armed conflict," Tuyuc said.