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IWGIA's Activities in the Philippines
The Philippines was the first country that IWGIA became involved with in Asia in the mid-1980s.
One of the difficulties for indigenous organizations, especially larger networks focusing on advocacy and lobbying work, is to secure funding for their basic operational costs. At the same time, networks representing indigenous peoples' interests on a higher level are key to sustained and effective self-organizing processes. To generate funds locally is in most cases unrealistic and these organizations therefore depend on partnership with outside support organizations. For a number of years, IWGIA has therefore provided direct institutional support to one of its key strategic partner organizations, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).
For the past five years, IWGIA has also supported an Ancestral Domain Support Program implemented by IPEX and Anthrowatch. The program aims to support indigenous communities to obtain a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).
From 2003 to 2005, IWGIA supported the establishment of the Consultative Body of indigenous leaders to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in the Philippines. In a joint effort, in which 225 indigenous peoples' organizations, 175 NGOs and 79 regional and local offices of the NCIP cooperated, Consultative Bodies were formed in 63 provinces and three cities. The creation of Consultative Bodies is provided for by the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act. It is supposed to advise the NCIP on and monitor the implementation of the Act. They have the potential to serve as key policy and rights advocacy bodies, making the voice of the indigenous communities heard among key decision makers in the country. Within Asia, the Consultative Bodies are a unique institution, and the experiences that will be gained over the coming years may be of interest and relevance to indigenous peoples beyond the region.
Since January 2006 IWGIA has supported the creation of the Philippine Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Watch, which is the first initiative focusing on monitoring the human rights situation of indigenous peoples in the Philippines. The Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Watch monitors and documents human rights abuses committed against indigenous peoples, especially those relating to civil-political rights and the indigenous peoples' rights to ancestral lands and resources.
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 Photo: Christian Erni
 Photo: Christian Erni
 Photo: Christian Erni
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