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Arizona committee to begin studying violent crime against Indigenous women and girls

360 RHIA DANAE ALMEIDA
AZPM Staff
Elayne Gregg holds up a portrait of her 7-year-old daughter Rhia Danae Almeida (left) at a ceremonial bill signing for HB 2570 which creates a committee that will study the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Arizona. Rhia was the victim of a sexual assault and murder that took place in Ajo in 2009.

Arizona is taking steps to reduce violence against one of the most vulnerable populations in the country: Indigenous women and girls. According to the federal government, they face high rates of homicide and are more than twice as likely to experience sexual assault than women of any other race.

Arizona 360 traveled to an event at the Capitol Museum in Phoenix where stakeholders came together for a ceremonial signing of a bill that establishes a committee to study the issue and make recommendations about legislation and policies that will address the causes. They’ll also focus on getting law enforcement across the state to closely track cases concerning missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.