UNITED NATIONS, March 12: Indigenous women must be integrated into their countries' decision-making so they can reclaim their right to make informed choices about their lives in times of peace or war , United Nations experts said at a panel discussion on Wednesday.

"Indigenous non-governmental organizations should be included in conflict prevention, peacemaking and reconciliation efforts, while electoral procedures after strife should be structured so as to empower women," Assistant Secretary-General Danilo Turk said in his address to a panel organized by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.