The 6th Annual Indigenous Women’s Regional Exchange Visit is starting in two days in Sabah, Malaysia – organized by PACOS Trust, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP).

Day 1 – On the 31 October – 4 November 2019, Sabah has hosted the 6th Indigenous Women’s Regional Exchange Visit that was held in Institute Of Native Affairs, Penampang, organized together by PACOS Trust, JOAS & AIPP with the support by the Sweden Sverige & TAMALPAIS Trust.

Titled “Building & Strengthening Indigenous Women’s Network in Asia”, Indigenous women from all over Asian countries, from Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Phillipines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos & Burma have come together to build networking and to discuss some of the issues and rights faced (roles, challenges, opportunities) in desicion making and social movements, their land rights issues including climate change by the Indigenous women.

Among the issues discussed in this meeting are issues related to discrimination, violence against women & children, education, health, land rights, rights in politics, women in decision making, resource management, movement building and some major issue regarding women’s rights. Each country representative presented their findings on issues that arose, especially on women’s rights. Participants shared their experiences and skills of working with their community through group discussions, exchanging ideas with all participants.

One of the main outcomes from this meeting is to increased capacity to advocate and lobby within (and outside) the Indigenous Peoples movement, as well as increased knowledge on their role in political participation, traditional leadership, livelihoods, conserving biodiversity and climate change adaptation at local, national and global level.

Day 2 – On the 31 October – 4 November 2019, more about discussion and sharing between the participants. Assistant Minister in the Department of Affairs & Foreign Affairs, Pn. Jannie gave a presentation entitled “Indigenous Women in Movement Building and Decision-Making of Different Levels”, explaining a bit about the chronological journey of the Indigenous women’s movement around the world. Participants were then divided into groups to discuss several topics on women and the challenges they faced.