A/HRC/33/68 16. The Executive Director of the Yiaku Laikipiak Trust, Jennifer Koinante, reported that the socialization of girls, in general in society but also within indigenous communities, embedded and accepted violence against women and girls as a part of traditional culture. Ms. Koinante stressed that violence against indigenous women in Africa was heightened in situations where there was little or no infrastructure or security. Indigenous women disproportionately suffered from poverty and were denied representation at all levels, from the local to the national levels. 17. Ms. Koinante shared some recommendations on how to address violence against indigenous women in accordance with the specific barriers that they faced locally. For instance, one challenge in Kenya was the lack of a coordination mechanism with the participation of indigenous women for the design and implementation of strategies and programmes to address violence against indigenous women. Lack of awareness deprived indigenous women of the opportunity to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Furthermore, the lack of a specific policy on indigenous peoples resulted in a situation where indigenous women’s issues were treated together with those of non-indigenous women, and the specificity of analysis and cultural sensitivity was lost. High illiteracy levels also contributed to social, political, cultural and economic barriers. For all these reasons, Ms. Koinante called upon United Nations agencies to act in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to assess violence against indigenous women in Africa and thereby to guide the region to make the changes necessary to foster a violence-free and healthy environment for indigenous women, their children and their communities. C. Interventions by representatives of States Members of the Human Rights Council, observer States and other observers 18. During the dialogue, delegations agreed that violence against indigenous women and girls was a pervasive and persistent global phenomenon that deserved international attention. Forms of violence affecting indigenous women and girls included female genital mutilation, rape, trafficking, forced and early marriage, domestic violence and killings. Many delegations noted that combating violence against women should be given the highest political priority. 19. Several delegates referred to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its inclusive spirit, highlighting the need to address structural discrimination and poverty affecting indigenous peoples, and in particular women. It was stressed that, in spite of their natural resources, indigenous women were disproportionately represented among those living in poverty, the result not only of racism, but of geographical and political marginalization as well. Consequently, they were exposed to multiple human rights violations, including a heightened risk of violence. Some speakers also referred to the recent killing of Berta Caceres, a prominent indigenous women and human rights defender in Honduras. 20. Indigenous women and girls faced compounded forms of discrimination, which heightened their exposure to different forms of violence due to various factors, such as illiteracy, stereotypes and lack of access to justice, and certain cultural practices. Some speakers pointed out that the lack of access to resources, and the conduct of extractive industries, were also linked to the magnitude of violence against women. The engagement of indigenous children and youth to instil values from an early age about rejecting violence against women was mentioned as an important entry point. 21. Within this context, several delegates reported on domestic strategies and national plans or commitments to support the rights of indigenous peoples. 5