CHR flags proposed IP law changes – BusinessWorld Online
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday sounded the alarms on a bill that would amend the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Acts (IPRA), warning the move could undermine the autonomy of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
In a statement, the CHR said the NCIP was established as an independent body to protect the interests of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous people (IP), free from external influence.
It was reacting to House Bill No. 9608, which seeks to transfer NCIP’s Ancestral Domains Office to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a shift the CHR warned could weaken the NCIP’s mandate to safeguard indigenous rights.
“(This) move could undermine the NCIP’s core mandate and weaken its institutional capacity to protect the rights of indigenous peoples,” it added.
On Jan. 17, the CHR released a position paper outlining its recommendations to reinforce the protection and fulfillment of indigenous peoples’ rights, while maintaining their autonomy and dignity.
It urged lawmakers to preserve the spirit of the IPRA and ensure the independence of the NCIP through inclusive and empowering initiatives. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
