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IP advocates join training on IP rights and international law

BAGUIO CITY (June 24) — Some 60 participants from alternative law groups, lawyers advocates for indigenous peoples (IP) rights, NCIP, the academe and representatives of people’s organizations from various regions in the country joined the training workshop on indigenous peoples rights and international law, at the Igorot Lodge, AIM Conference Center, Camp John Hay here from June 20 to June 26.

The training aimed to equip lawyers, paralegals and leaders of indigenous peoples organizations with the basic knowledge about international law and basic human rights of IPs.

The training is sponsored by Tebtebba, the indigenous peoples’ international policy advocacy, research and education center. Tebtebba enjoys accreditiation from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC). Legal Resource Center – Kasama sa Kalikasan (LRC-KSK), an organization advocating indigenous peoples rights, co-sponsored.

Main lecturer Fergus Mackay, an expert on International Law representing the Peoples Programme of UK, presented an overview of International Law and Institutions as they relate to indigenous peoples including International Treaty laws, human rights laws and national laws based on conceptual, practical and institutional issues. He also discussed the procedures and jurisprudence of the UN Treaty bodies, the ILO and others.

Atty. Francis Joseph Ballesteros of LRC-KSK, discussed the Multilateral and Bilateral Trade and Investments Agreements and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, training coordinator and Executive Director of Tebtebba discussed the universal and regional human rights instruments, mechanisms, and their relevance to indigenous peoples. Also speaking as the Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, she elaborated on the role of institutions like the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in the promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights.

The training is a follow-up to the first held in Cagayan de Oro City in November 2004 which was attended by 40 leaders of indigenous peoples organizations in the entire Mindanao island.

Some participants representing alternative law groups and advocates are planning to use the international instruments to file complaints to specific UN bodies against the Philippine government on particular cases of human rights violations of indigenous peoples like the case of the Subanons in Canatuan, for example. # Salvador Armando Ramo for NORDIS

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