The report was submitted by the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia (ICIPR), the Anti-Discrimination Center “Memorial,” the Institute for Ecology and Anthropology of Action (INFOE), and NorthWomen.
The authors argue that since the Committee’s previous review of the situation in Russia in 2021, the situation of indigenous women has “sharply worsened.” Among the key problems, they cite the persecution of human rights defenders, the weakening of independent indigenous institutions, the consequences of war and mobilization, women’s limited participation in decision-making, the impact of extractive industries and climate change, and problems with access to traditional lands, healthcare, and education.
The authors recall that Daria Egereva, a representative of the Selkup people, has been involved in international advocacy for indigenous peoples’ rights for over 20 years, including through the UNFCCC, LCIPP, EMRIP, and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She was detained shortly after returning from the COP30 climate conference in Belém. Natalia Leonhardt has also been involved in indigenous peoples’ rights advocacy for over 20 years, including human rights education, documenting violations, and building the capacity of activists.
Egereva and Leonhardt have been charged under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code, which carries lengthy prison sentences for participating in the activities of an organization designated as terrorist. The authors of the parallel report link the women’s criminal prosecution to their environmental and human rights activism and propose that CEDAW request an explanation from the Russian authorities for the basis for applying this article to women defending the rights of indigenous peoples.
The report also mentions other indigenous women activists and journalists who were subjected to searches and pressure. The authors note that some were forced to leave Russia.