By Roy Mabasa

The Philippines is fully committed to support the rights of the country’s 14 million indigenous people, including the preservation of their culture and traditions.

Speaking at the 18th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII), Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN Second Secretary Maria Roseny Fangco said the country’s commitment to work towards the full realization of the human rights and development of all indigenous peoples 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,” Fangco told the forum participants.

Around 1,000 participants composed of representatives of UNPFFI member states, UN agencies and civil society organizations and indigenous peoples organizations attended the forum, which took place at UN headquarters in New York.

Key issues discussed include the progress in commemorating the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, the 2030 Agenda, conservation and the rights of indigenous peoples, and the rights of indigenous women and children.

In emphasizing the Philippine commitment, 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.

The UN PFII is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) mandated to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, health and human rights.

There are more than 370 million indigenous people in about 70 countries worldwide.

Towards the end of the forum, UNPFII Chair Anne Nuorgam (Finland) said indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge is often “unrecognized,” along with their rights to land, education and resources.