Ontario Native Women’s Association Amplifying Indigenous Women’s Voices at United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, Switzerland – At the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), we work to amplify Indigenous women’s rights locally, nationally, and internationally. As a part of this work, ONWA is taking up our rightful space at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC57), taking place from September 9 to October 11 at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. 

The Human Rights Council is composed of 47 United Nations (UN) Member States. It was established in 2006 to promote and protect human rights globally, to address human rights violations, and to make recommendations on human rights.

ONWA’s is participating in HRC57 through written submissions and virtual oral statements to advocate for Indigenous women’s right to participate in decision making on the issues that impact Indigenous women’s lives. ONWA is advocating for the right tools and mechanisms to safely speak on their own behalf and represent themselves, their families, and future generations on all the key issues that impact their lives.

For the session, ONWA has prepared the following for consideration by the Council:

• Oral Submission for the Interactive Dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

• Oral Submission for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

With gratitude to Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, ONWA also submitted the following:

• Written Submission for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation 

• Written Submission for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery 

“The Human Rights Council is a crucial platform for global human rights discourse. For us, as Indigenous women, issues are intersectional and complex. Indigenous women are strong and resilient, and we refuse to be silenced or made invisible. We know the solutions to the issues that we face, and we must be included in decision-making in the United Nations. ONWA will continue our tireless work at all levels of government, including internationally, to advocate to uphold Indigenous women’s inherent leadership and right to safety and decision making.” – Cora McGuire-Cyrette, CEO, ONWA.

For more information and media inquiries, contact: 

Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager

Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)

Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca

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