CHR to hold inquiry on situation of indigenes

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHRI) will hold the National Inquiry on the Situation of Filipino Indigenous Peoples here and in Misamis Oriental today until Saturday in line with the government’s recognition and promotion of the rights of indigenes.

A formal public Hearing will take place at Paula’s Hotel in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental starting at 8 am tomorrow.

CHR has begun the series of public hearings and field visits, such as the present undertaking, that form part of the national inquiry on the human rights situation of the Filipino indigenous peoples. The national inquiry was launched on May 25-26, 2017 in Iloilo City.

The thematic areas for the inquiry includes:

• the protection and promotion of the indigenous peoples’ land and cultural rights;
• the effectiveness of the current government process to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous people; and
• the state of economic and social development of Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines.

The national inquiry is in line with the commitment of the Commission on Human Rights in taking account of the indigenes’ concerns as protection and promotions of their human rights.

The Commission further encouraged local governments’ involvement in these kinds of activities in furthering the implementation of the indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

As its main objective, the national inquiry aims to produce a recommendatory report on IPelated problems to be endorsed to government agencies, which bear equal mandate to protect the welfare of IPs in the country.