PH Upholds Commitment, Shares Programs to Protect Rights of Indigenous Filipinos at UN

Second Secretary Maria Roseny Fangco delivers statement at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (New York PM photo)

NEW YORK 08 May 2019 — The Philippines underscored its commitment to work towards the full realization of the human rights and development of all indigenous peoples in the country during the general discussion of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) held on 01 May 2019 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Addressing representatives of Member States, UN agencies and civil society organizations, including indigenous peoples organizations, Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations Second Secretary Maria Roseny Fangco said this commitment is in line with the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“The Philippine Constitution guarantees the protection of the rights of more than 14 million indigenous peoples in the Philippines. The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act recognizes their inherent rights to ancestral lands, to self-governance and self-determination, cultural identity, participation in decision-making, and their full development and empowerment,” Ms. Fangco said in her statement.

Ms. Fangco referred to the Philippine Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, which is formulated by and with indigenous peoples and promotes a culture- and rights-based approach to development. She stated that the government supports the preservation of indigenous knowledge, culture and traditions including in disaster risk reduction and management.

The UN 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.

The theme for the 2019 session of the Forum is “Traditional Knowledge: Generation, Transmission and Protection.” END

For more information, visit www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.