Hill Voice, 15 July 2025, International Desk: “16 Jumma women were felt prey to human rights violation in last 6 months in the Chittagong Hill Tracts”, says Monira Tripura, representative of Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum (BIYF) at 18th session of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).
Monira Tripura delivered statement on agenda “Item 3: Study and advice on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to data, including data collection and disaggregation” on Monday. The 18th session of the EMRIP began on Monday (July 14) at the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The session will continue until July 18.
Augustina Chakma of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, Monira Tripura and Tony Chiran of the Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum are participating in the 18th session of the EMRIP.
Monira Tripura said in her statement that one of the main concerns of indigenous peoples in the implementation of SDGs was the lack of disaggregated data on indigenous peoples, which led to the total invisibility of indigenous peoples in national reports and data collections. It is therefore important for States to include an “Indigenous identifier” in their official data collection to ensure adequate collection of disaggregated data. However, where data disaggregation is not yet feasible, sample data should be collected in a participatory manner, and collaboration with indigenous peoples’ institutions, organizations, and networks.
Data is important for the effective monitoring of State actions, including in the context of consultations with States before their periodic reporting to Treaty Bodies and under the Universal Periodic Review.
Indigenous women suffer compound forms of discrimination. This has resulted in higher degrees of poverty, limited access to healthcare services, information and communication technology, infrastructure, financial services, education, and employment, and higher rates of violence. To secure the rights of indigenous girls and women, States must engage in data collection efforts to fully assess the situation of Indigenous women and girls and the forms of discrimination and gender-based violence that they face. States must undertake efforts to collect data, disaggregated by a range of factors, including sex, age, Indigenous origin, status, or identity.
Indigenous women in Bangladesh are no exception. According PCJSS Report, from January to June 2025, the trend is noticeably getting height with the crimes upon the Jumma women, such as, raping, killing after raping, attempting to rape, eve teasing and cheating by the Muslim Bengali settlers, Bengali people coming from outside, laborers, and other professional individuals. From January to June 2025, 15 incidents of violence against Jumma women and girls were committed by Bengali Muslim settlers and security forces, and in this, 16 women were felt prey to human rights violations in Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Indigenous Women should be able to protect their data concerning their traditional knowledge and sacred sites. The collection of all Indigenous women-related data is subject to ethical standards and respect for human rights. Data and the right of self-determination support the concept of Indigenous data sovereignty.
In this context, Monira Tripura recommends the EMRIP:
- Bangladesh states must include an “Indigenous identifier” in official data collection and ensure disaggregated data on Indigenous Peoples, especially women and girls, in full partnership with Indigenous institutions to monitor the situation of Indigenous peoples and access to basic services.
- Data collection on Indigenous Peoples must respect Indigenous data sovereignty and be guided by ethical standards that protect traditional knowledge, values, and human rights.
