Institutional violence against indigenous women:

a challenge for public policies

Abstract

This article starts by recognising that one of the issues of greatest interest in the human rights framework, and particularly in the context of institutional violence against indigenous women, is the one concerning the connection of this issue with public policies. This problem is not new in Argentina, and indigenous women make up a population sector that is in a situation of vulnerability with respect to their rights in the face of violent state actions. Consequently, this article aims to expose the complexity of public policies, a sophistication that is reflected in their ability to prevent and address institutional violence. Consequently, a series of considerations is stipulated for the institution of policies that, from a human rights perspective, are capable of responding to the specific needs and demands that indigenous women demand, in an attempt to put an end to the violation of their rights. For this, and in line with the analysis provided from the cyclical approach of public policies, preference is given to the qualitative model of research because it offers a descriptive, interpretive and evaluative potential of a social, cultural and political object such as institutional violence.