Igorotlady, Manobo named to UN posts

By Maurice Malanes

BAGUIO CITY – An Igorot indigenous woman leader and an Arumanen Manobo have been named to positions under the United Nations Human Rights Council, a development which indigenous peoples here and overseas welcomed. 

Victoria-Tauli Corpuz from Besao, Mt. Province has been named as Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples’ rights, a position in which she will assess the condition of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples worldwide.

Former National Commission on Indigenous Peoples’ commissioner Edtami Mansayagan of Cotabato in southern Philippines has also been designated as member of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) from Asia-Pacific States.

United Nations Human Rights Council president Boudelaire Ndong Ella confirmed Tauli-Corpuz’s selection on March 3, noting her “active involvement with United Nations and multi-stakeholder cross-regional bodies on indigenous issues and her past collaboration with and commitment to constructive engagement among governments and indigenous peoples.”

“It will be considered as agreed ad referendum by all Members, if there is no objection by close of business on March 7,” Ella said in a March 3 letter to Council members.

The appointment of Special Rapporteur mandate holders, however, will be announced on March 28, the last day of the 25th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

As Special Rapporteur, Tauli-Corpuz will conduct thematic research on issues relevant to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples; visit countries to observe and hear about the challenges faced by indigenous peoples; and communicate with governments when human rights violations are alleged. 

Tauli-Corpuz founded Tebtebba, a Baguio-based non government organization which, since 1996, has been engaging with the United Nations on concerns such as indigenous peoples’ rights, sustainable development, climate change and biodiversity.  She is also the convenor of the Asian Indigenous Women’s Network.   

As an indigenous leader and activist, she was among those who lobbied for more than 20 years before the UN General Assembly finally adopted in 2007 the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Tauli-Corpuz was a former Chairperson of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the highest advisory body on indigenous issues within the United Nations system, from 2005-2009.

She was also an Expert for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations. 

A theology graduate, Mansayagan, on the other hand, was also a former member of the Presidential Task Force for Indigenous Peoples, current chairperson of the Arumanen Ne Menuvu Advisory Council and a member of the Board for the Foundation of the Philippine Environment.

As she anticipates the demands of the work, Tauli-Corpuz intends “to embark on cutting-edge studies to surface indigenous peoples’ issues.” 

Among these possible studies, she said, shall focus on the impacts of big business on the rights of indigenous peoples.  She said many conflicts arise as big business such as plantations and big mining firms encroach into indigenous peoples’ lands and territories without public consultation and transparency.     

ArohaTePareake Mead of the Maori Victoria Business School in Wellington, New Zealand and chair of the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy said the news of Tauli-Corpuz’s choice by the HRC president is “very fitting for you and us.”

 “We look forward to seeing Victoria Tauli-Corpuz take on this considerable task and to continuing our collaboration with her in the future,” said the Copenhagen-based non government International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) in a statement. “We are certain that she will make excellent use of her expertise and experience in this important position, for which she has our full support.”