Bontoc lass rallies Asia-Pacific youth for IP rights
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According to Piya Macliing Malayao, a native of Bontoc, there is a need to strengthen the IP youth movement in the global region because only a few countries have IP representations at the national level. She stressed that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) came to be because IP mass movements across the globe asserted their rights even against their own governments.
By APIYN (PR) with reports from RACHEL BACONOWA
BAGUIO CITY — The spokesperson of the Kalipinan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Kamp), a national alliance of indigenous peoples organizations in the Philippines urged the youth specially indigenous youth of the Asia-Pacific region to participate in the mass movement for the full recognition of indigenous peoples (IP) rights.
IP YOUTH CONFAB. Indigenous youth from New Zealand, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Russia and participants from Africa, Panama, and the USA attended the preparatory meeting on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP). The meeting was hosted by Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Netwaork and Land is Life-USA. Photo by Noel Godinez
“We mustccontinue the struggles of our ancestorsc for the sake of our future generation. It is about time to build higher solidarity worldwide”, said Malayao.
Malayao also called on governments to listen to the pleas of IPs in their territories.
Malayao was the key note speaker in the gathering of indigenous youths from all over the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Baguio City for a preparatory meeting for the World conference on Indigenous People (WCIP) at Villa Romana, Baguio City, April 18 to 21.
“It is high time that we, the indigenous youth from all over Asia and the pacific make a decision for the future of our communities. In these trying times, it is up to us young people to carry the torch in defending our land, life and resources against those who threaten it,” reiterated Julius Daguitan, Program Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN).
APIYN together with Land is Life, hosted the preparatory meeting on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), entitled Weaving Perspectives: Converging Indigenous Youth Initiatives in Advancing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous youth from New Zealand, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Russia and participants from Africa, Panama, and the USA attended the meeting.
The event includes discussions on updates and developments of indigenous peoples’ issues and struggles in the Asia-Pacific; country reports on the indigenous youth situation in the region; workshops on the provisions of the UNDRIP; and the selection of drafting committee members for the draft declaration of the Asia-Pacific Indigenous Youth to the WCIP.
The WCIP is scheduled in September 2014, wherein representatives of indigenous communities dialogue with heads of states in relation to indigenous peoples rights. “The WCIP is a venue for us to assert our rights as indigenous peoples. It is important that before conference, the Asia-Pacific indigenous youth is united in our stand so that we can properly lobby our demands to heads of states and other concerned agencies,” added Daguitan.
The input given by resource persons from Asia Indigenous Peoples’ Pact (AIPP), International Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) and IBON International. The preparatory meeting will conclude with a cultural night and a tour of Baguio City. This will be followed by a community cultural exchange and youth integration, and participation to the Cordillera Day 2013 from April 22 to 25 in Abra, Philippines.
“Weaving Perspectives aims to provide a platform for raising awareness, education, and solidarity in perspective and response on indigenous struggles and to facilitate communication links and give information service and exchange among its members and other concerned organizations. APIYN hopes to build unities and actions within the indigenous youth movement in the Asia-Pacific region during the said event,” Daguitan said.
APIYN is a network of 22 indigenous youth organizations in Asia-Pacific founded in 2001 during the 1st International Indigenous Youth Conference to serve as the regional platform for all indigenous youth organizations. The network is a non-profit organization in accordance of upholding and defending their peoples’ right to self-determination, national patrimony and sovereignty, cultural integrity and pride of heritage.
Land is Life is a US based non-government organization that strives to support indigenous communities in their efforts to protect their lands, cultures and livelihoods, and move forward a process of dialogue and strategic action that would bring about the international recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights, as articulated in UNDRIP. # nordis.net
