A/HRC/54/52 57. During armed conflict, sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and forced pregnancy, is used as a weapon to weaken the resolve of Indigenous Peoples in militarized disputes over land and resources.112 In Bangladesh, there are reported cases of women and girls being subjected to sexual violence in front of family and community members, often aimed at creating a psychosocial impact on the community.113 The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples has received allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by military personnel against women and girls peacefully demonstrating. He has issued many press releases to address discrimination, violence and attacks against, and killings of, Indigenous women and girls, including in Guatemala,114 Honduras,115 Colombia,116 Brazil117 and the Philippines.118 58. The militarization of and conflict over Indigenous land has led to the sexual assault, gang rape, sexual enslavement and killing of Indigenous women and girls in India, Kenya, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. 119 In Panama, Indigenous women fear sexual assault from military members stationed in their territory to prevent drug trafficking from neighbouring Colombia. 120 The Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples has noted that because women and girls are primarily responsible for gathering food, fuel, water and medicine, they are exposed to risks of sexual violence by militarized security forces, park rangers and law enforcement officers. 121 59. In the highly militarized islands of Okinawa in Japan – once the Kingdom of Ryukyu – there is a profound gender-based impact on Ryukyuan/Okinawan women and girls, who reportedly face high rates of sexual violence and domestic violence, and impunity due to the lack of effective remedies for these human rights violations.122 60. Likewise, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences has reported that the increase in armed clashes since late 2018 between Indonesian security forces and pro-Papua armed independence groups are examples of conflict that has an impact on Indigenous women.123 61. Indigenous women and girls worldwide who leave their families and communities fleeing difficult socioeconomic conditions or armed conflicts are highly vulnerable to trafficking, including severe economic and sexual exploitation and sexual violence. In Nepal, Indigenous women and girls allegedly account for almost 80 per cent of trafficked persons. 124 Trafficking has similarly been reported to have a significant impact on Indigenous Peoples in north-east India.125 Indigenous and Mexican women forced to migrate are instructed to 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 14 See A/HRC/EMRIP/2019/2/Rev.1. See also A/HRC/50/26; and Felicity Schaeffer, presentation at the Expert Seminar, Geneva, December 2022. Submission from Minority Rights Group International. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23125&LangID=E and https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23746&LangID=E. See https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23994&LangID=E, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=19805 and https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=17153&LangID=E. See https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25240&LangID=E. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27134&LangID=E. See https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22783&LangID=E. See A/HRC/30/41. See also the submissions from United NGOs Mission Manipur, North East Development Forum, Imphal, Manipur, from the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and from the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur. Submission from Arnold Groh, Structural Analysis of Cultural Systems. A/77/238, para. 18. See also the submission from the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. A/HRC/50/26, para. 27; and Ai Abe, visiting researcher at the University of the Ryukyus and member of the All Okinawa Council for Human Rights, presentation at the Expert Seminar, Geneva, December 2022. See also the submission from the Association of Comprehensive Studies for Independence of the Lew Chewans. A/HRC/50/26, para. 27. Submission from the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. Submission from United NGOs Mission Manipur, North East Development Forum, Imphal, Manipur. GE.23-14759