Recognizing the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls

May 5, 2020

On May 5, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) recognizes the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. This day of observance shines a light on the staggering number of abducted and murdered Indigenous women and girls. In some areas, American Indian and Alaska Native women are murdered at a rate 10 times the national average.

Legislative and policy changes are needed dismantle this injustice. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) would take important steps to address this violence by restoring tribal sovereignty over crimes like sexual assault committed against Native American women by non-Native perpetrators. It would also direct the federal government to collect data on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

More advocacy is needed to make these policies a reality: currently, VAWA awaits passage in the Senate. NNEDV will continue to work alongside our American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian partners and advocates to ensure that missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls are not invisible, and that safety becomes a reality for women in all communities.

In addition to the many dedicated advocates pushing for policy change on the federal and state levels, there is an active grassroots movement. One powerful example was February 14, 2020, when communities across the country came together for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Marches to bring awareness to this issue and honor missing and murdered relatives. NNEDV was privileged to stand with the National Workgroup on Safe Housing for American Indian and Alaska Native Survivors of Gender-Based Violence at the Minneapolis, MN march. 

Please join NNEDV and our colleagues at the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) today to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women and call for both grassroots and federal policy action.

Learn More and Get Involved:

• Join NIWRC’s #MMIWGActionNow Twitter chat on May 5 at 2:00 PM (ET). Learn more here.
• Downloadthe MMIWG ‘No More Stolen Sisters’ poster and share a photo of yourself wearing red and/or traditional attire with the poster using #MMIWGTakeAction, #NoMoreStolenSisters and #MMIWG. Download poster here.
• Tagthe National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in your efforts to raise awareness for MMIWG.
• Join NIWRC’s Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls – National Day of Action webinar on May 5 at 3:00 PM (ET). Learn more and register here.
• Sign up for NNEDV action alerts to stay in touch with your Congressional representatives about VAWA.
• Check out the resources in NIWRC’s Special Collection: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls.
• Support the StrongHearts Native Helpline.
  • The StrongHearts Native Helpline (1-844-762-8483)is a culturally appropriate domestic violence and dating violence helpline for Native Americans, available every day from 7 AM to 10 PM (CT).