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the whole of the Cordillera region, Philippines. “Elders” are not only old men but also include women and relatively young leaders who have gained the respect of the community for their
wisdom and commitment to work for indigenous peoples’ rights. They engage in conflict resolu- tion and mediation towards the settlement of tribal wars. They guide the youth in the practice
of their leadership roles. They lead in observing indigenous socio-political systems, rituals and practices. They take positions in relation to emerging national, regional and local issues that af-
fect their communities.
D. Lessons Learned
We can draw some valuable lessons from the numerous struggles of indigenous women, children, youth, elders and disabled in the assertion of their rights. These lessons can help guide
the indigenous peoples’ movements, wherever they are, in addressing the particular issues and concerns of the special sectors.
1. Know our rights
When people are aware of their rights, they can reflect on their situation and assess whether their rights are respected or violated. This knowledge is necessary in order to empower indige-
nous women, children, youth, elders and disabled to actively participate in the struggle to achieve changes in their situation. Thus, priority should be given to awareness-raising and training ac-
tivities on the rights and situation of indigenous women, children, youth, elders and disabled, not only among them but in the wider community as well.
2. Organizing and self-organization
For indigenous people to be effective in their actions, they need to be organized. Self-organi- zation is a means to unite the people for them to work together towards a common goal. Special
organizations for women, for children, for the youth, for the elders and for the disabled are effec- tive ways of motivating these special sectors to get involved and participate in the wider indige-
nous peoples’ struggles. These organizations should also make sure that the special interests and concerns of the special sector are addressed by the government, by the community and by the
peoples’ movements. Space should be given for these special sectors to participate in decision- making in wider community affairs through representation or through direct participation.
3. Collective action to demand, protect and defend our rights
We have learned from our long experience that rights are not freely handed to us. Rights are asserted and fought for through collective actions of the people. The UNDRIP is a result of
more than 20 years of struggle by indigenous peoples around the world. Collective actions draw strength from the huge numbers of people who are asserting and fighting for their rights. There
is strength in numbers, especially when we are vulnerable and marginalized. Indigenous women, children, youth, elders and disabled need to muster their organized strength into collective forms
of action such as demonstrations, petitions, pickets, dialogues, barricades, marches, rallies, etc.
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These collective actions are powerful means of expressing our demands and putting pressure on concerned authorities to recognize and respect our rights.
4. Lobby and advocacy work to pressure government to recognize and respect our rights
Some of the good practices of government were the result of people’s lobby and advocacy which exerted pressure on the government to heed the peoples’ demands. Lobby and advocacy
should be done through the concerted efforts of different sectors of society, including grassroots organizations, professionals, academic and religious institutions and advocates in the assertion
of indigenous peoples’ rights. Lobby and advocacy for the rights of the special sectors should be supported by the special sectors themselves to give teeth and strength to our efforts and collec-
tive actions. Lobby and advocacy work are necessary in order to pressure governments to give the basic social services, support and recognition that the special sectors rightly deserve.
V. CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
A. What do you think are the challenges faced by
indigenous women, chil- dren, youth, elders and
disabled in the implemen- taion of the UNDRIP?
B. What are the strategies to address the following
challenges?
1. National sectoral bod- ies should address the particular needs of indigenous women, children, youth, elders and
disabled, and include their representatives. Many countries in Asia have existing national bodies on the rights of women and children such as the national commission for women in India
and Indonesia. Such bodies should make special provisions to address the needs of their respec- tive indigenous constituencies, and to include representatives of indigenous women, children,
youth, elders and disabled in the appropriate national commissions.
2. Capacity building to overcome discrimination and awareness-raising on their rights.
Special training programs and campaigns to raise the capacity and level of awareness of indig- enous women, children, youth, elders and disabled in exercising their rights need to be provided
to them and to the community as a whole. It is important for indigenous peoples’ organizations to take this up as a priority, and to advocate for the rights of the said special sectors at all levels.
3. Capacity building to document and report cases of violation of rights of indigenous women, children, youth, disabled and elders. Indigenous activists need to undergo special-
ized training programs in documentation, so that they can effectively document and report cases of violations of the rights of indigenous women, children, youth, elders and disabled. Indigenous
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This final section should be a participatory process of en- visioning and identification for the particular context of
the participants.
Ask the participants the two main questions as listed be- low:
• What do you think are the challenges faced by each special sector in the implementation of UNDRIP?
• What are the strategies to address the said chal- lenges?
Split up the participants into workshop groups, and have them do poster presentations afterwards, in plenary.
Suggested Method
