Twenty-four years from the enactment in 1997 of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) lamented that land-related harassments, attacks and killings of indigenous peoples (IPs) continue unabated in the country.

This was stressed by the CHR as it joins in the commemoration this month of October of the “Indigenous Peoples Month” which is contained in Proclamation No. 1906 issued in 2009.

IPRA, under Republic Act No. 8371, was enacted to “recognize, protect and promote the rights of indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples.” The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) was created to implement RA 8371.

The CHR said that the enactment of IPRA made the Philippines the first country in Asia to give recognition to the plight of IPs.

In a statement issued on Friday, Oct. 15, CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said there is still the need to raise awareness on the plight of IPs and increased protection from the government.

“Thus, this year’s 24th IPRA celebration with the theme ‘The Journey of Indigenous Peoples for Genuine Recognition, Respect, and Self-Governance’ -- which emphasizes the struggle of IPs in attaining recognition, respect and self-governance in their cultural communities -- is an important commemoration to raise awareness on their culture and struggles.”

“Twenty-four years since the passage of IPRA is a long time for us to protect our indigenous communities. Let us not fall short on our responsibilities,” De Guia stressed.

Citing CHR’s experience on the ground, she lamented that access to basic social services such as health care and land-related harassments remain to be the main problem being faced by indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With this, she said, the CHR urged local government units to do their “utmost” to ensure that health care and vaccines remain accessible to indigenous communities.

“WE continue to call for the protection of indigenous minorities, especially children caught in conflict and those communities subject to land-grabbing,” she stressed.

Specific cases of land-grabbing, attacks and killings of IPs were not cited in the CHR statement.