Civil Socities Question ASEAN Governments’ Recognition of Indigenous Peoples
3 May 2011 9:00 pm
During Indigenous People’s workshop in ASEAN People’s Forum in Jakarta on 4 May 2011, civil societies across South East Asia questioned ASEAN governments’ acknowledgement for the indigenous peoples’ rights in the region.
ASEAN governments have recognized the rights of IP/EM as manifested by their voting on the adoption of the UNDRIP.
“However, there is a need to address the historical discrimination, rampant violation of civil, political, economic and cultural rights of IP/EM. There is thus a need to raise the awareness on their rights and implement the articles of the UNDRIP”, said Jopi Peranginangin from AMAN, an Indigenous People’s organization in Indonesia.
The workshop agree to implore the positive action of the ASEAN member States to:
- Recognize IP/EM as distinct peoples with collective rights, rights to land, territories and natural resources, right to self determination including Free Prior and Informed Consent and the right of participation in all proccesses, programmes and plans affecting them at all levels, and such other rights laid down under the UNDRIP and ILO 169.
- Acknowledge, recognize and protect the contribution of IP/EM in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, protect their rights to sustainable livelihoods, food security and sovereignty; and protect their rights against the adverse effects of extractive industries and other projects with adverse socio-cultural and environment impacts and risks.
- Establish an independent working group and monitoring oversight mechanism within AICHR to promote IP/EM rights
- Promote and protect indigenous health knowledge practices and ensure the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) specially in health care, water and sanitation. Their right to a healthy and balanced ecology must be respected and ensured.
Contact Person:
Jopi Peranginangin ( [email protected]) and
Rukka Sombolinggi ( [email protected])