Today, the 9th of August is not only the International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples but also the National Indigenous Peoples Day in the Philippines. The Philippines has an estimated number of over 10 million Indigenous People mainly concentrating in Mindanao and Northern Luzon with a few groups in the Visayas. By that they make up about 10 % of the entire population and can be divided in over 40 different ethno-linguistic groups. This makes the Philippines the country with the highest percentage of Indigenous People in Asia. Due to colonial history and nation building processes Indigenous Groups have been deprived and discriminated in various ways during the history of the nation. Harassment from national and international companies, private investors and landlords as well as from the government to make profit of their inhabited lands and associated evictions, little access to education and infrastructure and a lack of governmental…
Statement on Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Philippines
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