Grant name: Advocacy for human rights protection to strengthen Indigenous Institutions and Organizations in militarized communities to advance just peace
Local partner: Katribu National Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines (Katribu)
Country: Philippines (Mindanao regions of Caraga, Davao, SOCSKSARGEN; Central Luzon; Southern Luzon; and Manila)
Background and objective
Indigenous peoples in the Philippines have resisted Spanish and American Colonization, and are continuously asserting their collective rights to their ancestral lands and self-determination. Most of their ancestral territories are considered the last frontier of natural resources and wealth of the Philippines. In February 2017, an all-out war was declared against the New People’s Army. In May 2017, martial law was declared in Mindanao. These, along with the implementation of counter-insurgency programs and an anti-terrorism campaign, have resulted in worsening human rights violations and conflicts, especially in the indigenous communities of Mindanao. As such, there is a need to increase the capacity of existing indigenous institutions and organizations to document and report on the human rights situation in their communities, to bring just and lasting peace to their ancestral lands and the entire country.
The objective of the project is to organize six trainings to indigenous leaders on human rights documentation and advocacy activities. The trainings aim to orient community leaders, including youth, on the basic principles of human rights; reinforce their capacity to document human rights violations, including violence against indigenous women and children; and to advocate in national and international spaces for the protection of human rights towards a just and lasting peace in the Philippines.
At least 120 Lumad, Ayta and Dumagat leaders have participated in seminars and trainings, and increased knowledge and skills on human rights and documentation of human rights violations. At least 5 public actions in Mindanao and Luzon on the human rights situation of the Indigenous Peoples 4 Public actions conducted.
Local partner information
The KATRIBU KALIPUNAN NG MGA KATUTUBONG MAMAMAYAN NG PILIPINAS, or Katribu, is a national alliance of regional and provincial indigenous peoples’ organizations that represent various indigenous communities of the Philippines. KATRIBU, formerly known as KAMP, was formed in 1987 after a series of national consultative assemblies of tribal leaders that culminated in a “Sandugo” (one blood) pact. Since then, KATRIBU has strived to work for the attainment of genuine ancestral land rights and self-determination for the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
