On August 9, the indigenous peoples globally will celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People under the theme “Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future”. The celebration in the Philippines will focus on indigenous women under the theme “Kapayapaan, Kasarinlan, Karapatan para sa Katutubong Kababaihan (Peace, Freedom, Rights for Indigenous Women)”. The August 9 event will kick-off the 3-month Indigenous Peoples (IP) Solidarity campaign in the country. The September events will focus on international instruments such as advocacy for the ratification of the ILO Convention (No. 169) on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and the popularization of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) In October, which is the “birth month” of the Indigenous Peoples’ Act (IPRA) of the Philippines, activities will include discussions on the state of the indigenous peoples and their ancestral domains.

The Office of the Committee on National Cultural Communities of the House of Representatives, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and civil society organizations will host various events on August 9. It will include indigenous peoples’ dialogues with legislators and policy makers, an exhibit, a press conference and privilege speeches of Congressmen focusing on issues and concerns of indigenous peoples in the Philippines.

The ILO CO Manila’s Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP) and other members of the United Nations Technical Working Group on Indigenous Peoples will support an exhibit that will highlight the work of indigenous peoples. The ILO part of exhibit will focus on enterprise development and traditional livelihoods featuring indigenous women’s income and employment generation activities, including their production of hand-woven and hand-crafted culture-based products.

The event aims to raise visibility of indigenous peoples concerns among legislators, policy makers and donors. Through the exhibit, ILO will highlight good practices and contributions of indigenous peoples to decent work and sustainable economic and social development and promote advocacy for the ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 in the Philippines.

For further information please contact

Mr Domingo Nayahangan
IPDP Manager
IPDP Butuan Office, 3^rd Floor, D & V Plaza,
J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
Tel: +63 917 5599389

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