Kaiowá indigenous women face systemic barriers to justice

Micheli Alves Machado, a Kaiowá indigenous woman and educator, highlights the complex challenges facing indigenous women regarding violence and access to justice. Machado emphasizes that addressing violence against these women requires looking beyond physical aggression to consider systemic factors such as territorial issues, poverty, racism, and communication barriers.

Operating near Dourados in Mato Grosso do Sul, Machado notes that proximity to urban areas does not guarantee access to public services or legal protection. She argues that the State must understand the specific vulnerabilities of Kaiowá women, which are often exacerbated by a lack of specialized institutional support and the intersection of social and territorial struggles.