Gender-based violence in indigenous peoples of Colombia

Guidelines for the Strategy for a comprehensive approach to sexual and gender-based violence against children, adolescents and indigenous women. This work was done with the support and accompaniment of the ICBF and the WFP.

During the second half of 2019, we carried out a consultancy for the development of guidelines for the Strategy for a comprehensive approach to sexual and gender-based violence against children, adolescents and indigenous women. This work was done with the support and accompaniment of the ICBF and PMA.

Although the initiative was of a national order given the scope of the Strategy, a particular approach was made to two populations: the Maibén Masiware people of Caño Mochuelo and the Embera of Valle del Cauca and Risaralda, which present manifestations of gender violence that differ from each other in their forms and in the way they should be addressed, but are considered emblematic cases because the various sectors and institutions, including indigenous organizations, have devoted significant resources and efforts to mitigate their situation.

The project had an important preparation and preparation phase, with a review of bibliographic or secondary sources, field work in the two case studies, as well as interviews and focus groups with national and local institutional and community actors. A women's meeting was also held to discuss the perspectives of the problem from the worldviews of their peoples and their roles as women. There were participants from different peoples who enriched the integral viewpoints.

The process resulted in a series of diagnostic, analytical and explanatory documents and, above all, recommendations for a comprehensive approach to gender-based violence in indigenous peoples. These recommendations were classified into 4 dimensions, namely: norms, public policies, restitution of rights/comprehensive action and interaction with the community.