PH Advocates for Preservation of Indigenous Languages at UN
Mission Minister Ariel Peñaranda, flanked by Ms. Marvie Misolas of Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (left) and Ms. Elsa Muttathu of International Presentation Association (right), discusses programs undertaken by the government to preserve Philippine indigenous languages at the sidelines of the 18th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. (new York PM photo)
NEW YORK 08 May 2019 – The Philippines advocated for the preservation of indigenous languages as the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York addressed representatives of UN Member States and civil society organizations, including indigenous peoples organizations at the event entitled “Language as the lifeline of indigenous identity and transmission of culture,” held at the sidelines of the 18th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on 23 April 2019.
Minister Ariel Peñaranda outlined the Philippines’ policies, programs and activities including the implementation of the Philippine Indigenous Ethnographies Project. He noted that the output of the multi-year project is centered on the production of ethnographies of indigenous peoples themselves.
“Through this project, indigenous peoples will be empowered to create their ethnographies, and utilize the same in the formulation of their own plans for the preservation and development of their culture, heritage and indigenous language,” Minister Peñaranda said. Ethnography is the study and systematic recording of human cultures.
He shared the Philippine Government’s efforts in convening national and regional consortia of government officials, indigenous leaders and indigenous peoples organizations to implement the project. Terms of cooperation among relevant agencies and advocacy and communication plans have also been formulated.
The Permanent Forum of Indigenous Issues (PFII) takes place from 22 April to 3 May at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. PFII is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council mandated to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, health and human rights. END
For more information, visit www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.