Our Vision and Commitment
KATRIBU is the voice of the indigenous peoples. It manifests the strong desire of the indigenous peoples to work collectively in pursuit of a long dreamt peaceful and just society where the right to self-determination of the indigenous peoples is realized to the fullest.
We, members of KATRIBU, stand by this commitment as we draw inspiration from the historic and valiant struggles of our ancestors.
We embody the collective desire of the indigenous peoples, who have long suffered from the stigma and discrimination resulting from the colonial history of the Philippine nation, to be free from this oppressive condition, and to bear the power to decide and chart our own destiny as indigenous peoples.
We believe that KATRIBU must have a significant role in defining the economic, socio-cultural, and political life of the whole Philippine nation and society, and that genuine participation and representation of indigenous peoples at all levels of government decision-making is necessary.
Upon this vision and commitment, we vow to advance the collective rights and aspirations of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
Our Principles
We, indigenous peoples, united by common goals and aspirations, bonded by our common history, taking pride in our struggle for the right to ancestral domains and to self-determination and pursuing social justice and equity, non-discrimination, progress, and peace, do hereby affirm our basic principles that serve as our torch and guide in our endeavors.
We thereby
• Uphold the right to self-determination, self-governance and genuine autonomy of indigenous peoples.
• Commit to defend our ancestral domains and resources and protect the environment from destruction and unbridled exploitation.
• Call for a policy that recognizes, promotes, and respects the collective rights of indigenous peoples as well as their civil and political rights
• Uphold and nurture indigenous socio-political institutions, knowledge systems and culture.
• Pursue a progressive and enlightened unity and cooperation among the indigenous peoples and between the indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
• Pledge to work for peace based on justice in local indigenous communities and in the whole Philippines.
• Assert self-determined, self-reliant and sustainable development towards the eradication of poverty in communities of indigenous peoples.
• Engage in international solidarity with other indigenous peoples around the world.
Our Program
Guided by our principles and commitment, we affirm the following objectives, to:
1. Unite the indigenous peoples on the basis of KATRIBU’s principles and objectives;
2. Work for the review of laws and programs that impact on indigenous peoples and violate the indigenous peoples’ basic human and collective rights;
3. Promote self-determined development by supporting programs on ancestral land recognition, sustainable development and against the continuing plunder of resources;
4. Undertake programs that protect, nurture and develop the environment for the general peoples’ welfare.
5. Strengthen unity and cooperation among diverse tribes and communities of indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples, by pursuing collective actions on common problems and common aspirations;
6. Institute programs and mechanisms that shall address the continuing displacement of the indigenous peoples from their communities and to uphold the right of indigenous peoples to free prior and informed consent over any development projects affecting them.
7. Initiate measures that would allow indigenous peoples to primarily benefit from the resources found within their ancestral territories ;
8. Promote initiatives that shall safeguard the socio-economic and cultural rights of the indigenous peoples in their places of re-settlement and in workplaces abroad;
9. Work for the attainment of peace based on social justice by supporting peace initiatives that address militarization in indigenous territories and initiate the resolution of tribal conflicts;
10. Establish collective and cooperative programs and projects for the welfare of indigenous peoples;
11. Uphold the indigenous peoples’ basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to ensure justice for all victims of human rights violations by initiating corresponding support programs;
12. Promote and develop the indigenous peoples’ culture towards the enrichment of the national cultural heritage;
13. Foster international solidarity relations with other indigenous peoples on the basis of indigenous peoples rights and welfare.
Blog Action Day: 10.15.09, Climate Change
October 14, 2009 in Commentary | Leave a comment
http://www.bloggerskapihan.com/2009/10/08/blog-action-day-2009-pilipinas/