GENEVA – The United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, today called on the Philippines Government to launch a full and independent investigation into the killings of three human rights defenders in Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, which is currently affected by armed conflicts.

One of the human rights defenders killed was the director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Development (ALCADEV), a school providing education to indigenous youth who live in the mo

Manila, Philippines—Indigenous Peoples organizations facilitated a dialogue with United Nations Special Rapporteur (SR) on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Vicky Tauli-Corpuz last 16 September 2015 on the recent spate of Lumad killings in Mindanao. Edtami Mansayagan, a Lumad himself and a member of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) was also present in the dialogue.

Rappler talks to Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, on how to deal with the alleged human rights violations committed against the Lumad

MANILA, Philippines – Thirteen-year old Lumad Shin Campos saw her father shot in the head twice, allegedly by military and paramilitary elements, on September 1 near their village in Lianga town in Surigao del Sur.

Helpless and traumatized, Shin fled her village with her family and hundreds of other indigenous peoples, trekking for two hours to bring her dead father and another victim to t

MANILA – How are indigenous peoples in the Philippines doing?

The spokesman of Dr. Cheloka Beyani, the UN Special Rapporteur for Internally Displaced Peoples, has accused the Armed Forces of the Philippines of “gross misrepresentation” following the release of a military statement on lumad evacuees in Davao City.

The AFP Eastern Mindanao Command press release carried the title: “LUMADS IN HARAN ARE MANIPULATED: Not Evacuees but victims of trafficking”.

That statement has been pushed by Maj. Harold Cabunoc and handpicked media to boost the claim — first raised by North Cotabato Rep.

MANILA – Ten murders; local government opposition; environmental warnings; a United Nations official’s alarm over the displacement of thousands of rural folk — there’s no stopping the controversial Tampakan mines project in Central Mindanao.

South Cotabato Gov.

Karapatan acknowledged the statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Dr.

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The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples thinks the proposed Bangsamoro law falls short in meeting the minimum international standards for the survival, dignity, and well being of indigenous peoples

In light of the Bangsamoro Basic Law’s (BBL) impending adoption by the Philippine House of Representative and Senate, I would like to share my views on House Bill No. 4994 and its amended version.

The final adopted version of the BBL will have direct impacts on the rights of the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples.

“With the continuous mining in our communities, the indigenous women and the whole community continue to fight.”

MANILA – Indigenous women led by Bai Indigenous Women Network (BAI) protested at the Chino Roces Bridge (former Mendiola Bridge) on Thursday, Nov.

“More than 100,000 indigenous peoples from 39 tribal groups all over the country will be dislocated or will lose their livelihood as an effect of the all-out mining liberalization under Aquino.