PH Ambassador to Austria Champions Indigenous Peoples’ Rights at International Cultural Diversity Organization (ICDO)  

Roundtable. Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad calls to protect Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs) at the International Cultural Diversity Organization’s (ICDO) virtual panel. (Vienna PE photo)

VIENNA 15 September 2020 – Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad advocated for the protection and integration of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) at the inaugural event of the Long Nights of Interculturality 2020 hosted by the International Cultural Diversity Organization (ICDO) on 14 September 2020. 

A Vienna-based non-governmental organization (NGO) which enjoys the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) patronage, the ICDO aims to “promote the message of cultural equality and the importance of cultural diversity.”

ICDO Chief Executive Officer Josipa Palac engaged with Ambassador Natividad as well as high-level representatives from Afghanistan and Australia, in a spirited discussion during a virtual panel dedicated to “Multidisciplinary Approaches to the COVID-19 Crisis and Cultural Diversity Around the World.”  

In line with the ICDO’s mission, Ambassador Natividad emphasized the integral and invaluable place of indigenous groups in the Philippines’ blended cultural tapestry. She also outlined the diverse issues facing Philippine IPs, drawing attention to the “systemic disadvantages” that continue to affect indigenous groups amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ambassador Natividad likewise highlighted the Philippine government’s longstanding legacy of championing indigenous rights, both at the national level and in arenas of global governance. By recognizing indigenous groups’ rights to ancestral land and water, the Philippines’ Indigenous Peoples’ Act of 1997 pioneered what would become an international movement for indigenous rights. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) used the Philippines landmark act as a model for its own internationally recognized provisions. 

Though limited to virtual participation, the Philippines and ICDO’s joint commitment to standing up for indigenous groups amid the obstacles of social distancing has already yielded meaningful connections. A netizen of Igorot descent took to Facebook to express her gratitude for Ambassador Natividad’s efforts to focus representation on her culture: “As a full-blooded Igorot, I am proud of my heritage. You said we are self-sufficient; that is the culture I grew up with, and we Igorots… want to be an asset to society, not a liability. It’s music in our ears to hear that the Igorots are near to your heart… We will continue to support you in your advocacy.” END 

Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad underscores the importance of preserving cultural sustainability for Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs) during the virtual panel hosted by Josipa Palac of the International Cultural Diversity Organization (ICDO). (Vienna PE photo) 

Philippine Ambassador to Austria Maria Cleofe R. Natividad (center) with Philippine indigenous peoples (IPs) at the Global Conference for Heads of Post in 2019. Philippine IPs’ rights represent a longtime personal advocacy of Ambassador Natividad. (Photo courtesy of ICDO)

For more information, visit https://www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinAustria/ or https://www.twitter.com/PHLinAustria.