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"the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." - MLK 

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Honoring International Day of the Girl and Indigenous Peoples' Day

October 11, 2021
By Tracy Abler, Justice Coordinator

Today we stand in solidarity with two groups of very powerful people has we commemorate the UN International Day of the Girl and Indigenous People’s Day.

One way that you can honor both is by asking our Senators to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The current iteration of VAWA is critical because, among other things, it holds predators who prey on Indigenous women and girls accountable. The bill grants tribal courts the ability to prosecute non-Native people for sex-trafficking, sexual violence, and stalking. The bill passed the House in March, now we must ask our Senators to do the same. Email your Senators here.

We know that Indigenous women and girls experience violence" at disproportionate rates due to the impacts of colonization and the jurisdictional challenges currently facing tribes." According to a study by the National Institute of Justice, 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced sexual violence, stalking, or intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Around 97% of the female victims suffer violence at the hand of a non-native perpetrator. However, Native American tribes are not allowed to charge non-Natives with crimes, even if those crimes happened on tribal land. The only time they are allowed to charge non-Natives with crimes is when Congress gives them specific authority to do so in a law. 

As we commemorate International Girls Day and Indigenous People's Day on October 11, let us do all that we can to ensure justice for both.

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