When discussing, planning and implementing sustainable development and environmental conservation project, a most important voice often tends to remain unheard: the voice of indigenous women. This despite the fact that indigenous women have valuable and specialized knowledge and experience with managing natural resources and protecting the environment that could play a key role in sustainable development.

In this briefing paper prepared by AIPP’s Indigenous Women’s Programme in relation to the Rio +20 World Conference on Sustainable Development, indigenous women from the Asia-Pacific region share their key concerns and demands with respect to sustainable development and describe some concrete actions that would improve their role and equal participation in sustainable development initiatives.