FACT SHEET: North American Working Group on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls, New Commitments & Accomplishments From
“Together, we’ve strengthened your sovereignty, reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act so that tribes can prosecute those who commit domestic violence against women in Indian Country, whether they’re Native American or not. We’ve worked to ensure your right to equal justice under the law, and given more power to tribal courts and police.”
–President Obama addresses Tribal leaders at the 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference
On June 29, 2016, President Obama traveled to Ottawa for the North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS) to meet with the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada, to discuss a variety of topics that affect our shared borders. Among the commitments announced at the NALS was the formation of a new North American Working Group on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls (the Working Group), a tri-lateral initiative to address the high levels of domestic and sexual violence against indigenous women and girls across our continent. The Working Group, composed of high-level representatives of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, meets for the first time today at the White House.