#MMIP
MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Indigenous women, families, and grassroots organizations are leading a global movement to address a heartbreaking human rights crisis centuries in the making: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples.
In response, federal governments and several states enacted legislation and established alert systems. Notably, Canada initiated a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in 2016. In 2018, the Ashlynne Mike AMBER ALERT in Indian County Act came into effect, and Montana passed Hanna’s Act in 2019. The United States signed into law Savanna’s Act and Not Invisible ACT in 2020, and the Parliament of Australia commenced a National Inquiry into First Nations Missing and Murdered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women and Children in 2022. In 2023, Washington State established an Amber-Alert-System for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) and California’s Feather Alert became law that same year. Alaska passed Senate Bill 151 in 2024, and Arizona enacted a new Turquoise Alert, also known as “Emily’s Law,” in 2025.
Yet despite these efforts and others, disproportionate violence against Indigenous Peoples, particularly women, continues to persist. Native women face a murder rate over ten times the U.S. national average, with four out of five experiencing some form of violence in their lifetime. In New Zealand, Māori women are three times more likely to experience violence than non-Māori women. First Nations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are six to eight times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous women in Australia.
Recent reports are alarming. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) reports no significant changes to end violence against First Nations women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals in Canada. In 2024, the United States Department of Justice FBI reported 10,248 missing Indigenous persons, including 5,614 women and 4,626 men. Most missing women were under the age of 18. The Parliament of Australia’s 2024 MMIWC Report recommendations remain unimplemented, with numerous instances of police and court interactions failing Indigenous women experiencing violence. A new 2026 Report from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General reveals that 20% of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are noncompliant with Savanna’s Act.
Colonization, historical injustices, and systemic failures are the root causes of violence against Indigenous Peoples. Addressing these causes is crucial for effective solutions and justice. Sustaining efforts to raise awareness and protect our communities is imperative. The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples demands immediate attention. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Taking decisive action and holding those responsible accountable are essential steps in ending this horrifying tragedy.
