Ratify 25-year old ILO Convention, lawmaker urges govt

There is need to strengthen protection and guarantees for the rights of the countrys
indigenous peoples, a Mindanao lady lawmaker stressed.
Rep. Nancy A. Catamco (
N!
!istrict, North Cota"ato# is author of $ouse Resolution No.
%& entitled 'A Resolution urging the (hilippine )o*ernment, through the +enate, for the
immediate ratification of ,-. %/0, otherwise known as The ,ndigenous and Tri"al (eoples
Con*ention of %010, further protecting and guaranteeing the rights of the countrys ,ndigenous
(eoples.2
'The ,-. %/0 has already "een ratified "y more than 3 countries, there"y ensuring the
protection and de*elopment of ,ndigenous (eoples,2 Catamco pointed out in $R %&, now
awaiting final action "y the $ouse Committee on 4oreign Affairs chaired "y Rep. Al 4rancis
5ichara (
nd
!istrict, Al"ay#.
6*en as ratification has yet to come, Catamco noted that the (hilippine go*ernment has
already enacted Repu"lic Act 178%, otherwise known as the ,ndigenous (eoples Rights Act of
%008 (,(RA#, to protect and promote the rights of ,ndigenous (eoples, including their rights to
their ancestral domains and self9determination.
',-. %/0 ser*es as a tool to further the common goal of promoting and protecting said
rights in countries that ha*e ratified the same and its ratification shall o"lige go*ernment to
o"ser*e and respect its mandate,2 she added.
The ,-.9Con*ention %/0 or the ,nternational -a"or .rgani:ation Con*ention is a "inding
international con*ention that relates to ,ndigenous (eoples (,(s# and the forerunner of the
!eclaration on the Rights of ,ndigenous (eoples.
The author e;plained that the ,-. %/0 specifically contains the international standards
earlier enshrined in the ,ndigenous and Tri"al (opulations Con*ention and Recommendation of
%0&8, and the terms of the <ni*ersal !eclaration of $uman Rights, the ,nternational Co*enant on
6conomic, +ocial and Cultural Rights, the ,nternational Co*enant on Ci*il and (olitical Rights,
and the many international instruments on the pre*ention of discrimination.
The (hilippine Constitution, noted Catamco, gi*es prime recognition to the rights of the
,(s, including their aspiration to self9determination as a people, the need to e;ercise control o*er
their own institutions, languages and religions within the framework of the fundamental law.
The (hilippines has an estimated %= million ,(s and the need for them to en>oy their
fundamental rights as human "eings who ha*e distinct needs, aspirations, *alues, customs, laws
and perspecti*es should "e guaranteed "y the +tate, the author stressed, she pointed out.
'The need to ratify the ,ndigenous and Tri"al (eoples Con*ention of %010 (,-.
Con*ention %/0# is indispensa"le,2 Catamco concluded. (73# dpt
NR # 3621
OCT. 16, 2014