Indigenous Women Empowered in Development Initiatives by the Holy See
In a significant move towards recognising and empowering indigenous women, the Holy See has pledged its support and closeness to these communities, particularly in the Amazon region.
During a Special Session in Washington, Monsignor Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, the Holy See's permanent observer at the Organization of American States (OAS), highlighted the crucial role indigenous women play in sustaining communities in the Amazon. According to Pope Francis, the survival of Amazon communities is largely due to the presence of strong and generous women.
The Holy See has expressed a request for indigenous women to be considered active protagonists in shaping the future. This commitment is reflected in the Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia, where Pope Francis recognised the crucial role of indigenous women in sustaining communities in the Amazon.
The distinctive power of women in Amazon communities has been highlighted by the Holy See. To amplify their voices and protect their rights, the Holy See supports initiatives that ensure their full participation in society.
One such initiative is the development and implementation of Gender Action Plans across indigenous territories, promoting gender equality and indigenous women’s leadership. The Holy See is also directly engaging over 1,800 indigenous women in economic empowerment initiatives, land rights advocacy, and training programs tailored to their cultural contexts, languages, and worldviews.
The Holy See has launched an Indigenous-produced e-module on Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Local Communities (LC) women and biodiversity, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. This educational tool aims to empower indigenous women in biodiversity and land stewardship.
To strengthen indigenous women’s voices and roles in decision-making processes, the Holy See has created Women’s Rights and Leadership Forums. The Holy See also supports indigenous women in documenting Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, preserving traditional knowledge systems essential for biodiversity and sustainable land use.
The Holy See's efforts extend to engaging indigenous women in economic activities such as sustainable agriculture and cacao value chains, with entrepreneurial training programs that foster economic autonomy. These programs are intergenerational, gender-inclusive, responsive, and centred on indigenous languages and worldviews.
While specific programs explicitly under Holy See auspices in the Amazon were not found, the Holy See's support can be understood within frameworks aligning with such initiatives that advance indigenous peoples' dignity, rights, and leadership. For more information on programs explicitly branded or coordinated by the Holy See for indigenous women in the Amazon, further inquiry with Vatican offices such as the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development or Catholic organizations engaged in Amazonian pastoral care may yield more specific information.
The Holy See continues to invest in the education and health of indigenous peoples across the hemisphere through its institutions and works. The commemoration of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples and the Eighth Inter-American Week of Indigenous Peoples served as a platform for the Holy See to reaffirm its commitment to promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of indigenous women.
The Holy See is committed to amplifying indigenous women's voices and advocating for their education-and-self-development in various initiatives, such as the development and implementation of Gender Action Plans, the Indigenous-produced e-module on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities women and biodiversity, and entrepreneurial training programs in sustainable agriculture and cacao value chains.
The Holy See's support for indigenous women not only sees the importance of their full participation in society, but also recognizes their critical role in education-and-self-development, contributing to the future shaping of their communities in the Amazon region.
