The Inter-Agency Round Table Discussion on Culture Sensitive Delivery of Development Services to Indigenous Peoples aims to promote government support and commitment to culture-sensitive delivery of development services to indigenous peoples and to generate support for the renewed campaign for the ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 or the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention.

It will provide a venue for government agencies and offices to share their current programmes, activities and projects that address the needs and concerns of indigenous peoples. The technical aspects of ILO Convention No. 169 will be discussed also in the context of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Expected outputs include:

• a development agenda for indigenous peoples by government as a result of the discussion on programmes, activities and projects of government;
• principles of culture-sensitive approaches to indigenous peoples development; and,
• endorsement for the ratification of ILO Convention No. 169.

The round-table discussion is in line with the three-month campaign for Indigenous Peoples Rights and Empowerment being convened by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Committee on National Cultural Communities of the House of Representatives in partnership with government agencies, civil society organizations and United Nations agencies. The campaign was successfully launched at a Kick-Off activity on August 9, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples where the UN Inter-Agency Technical Working Group on Indigenous Peoples, chaired by the ILO, participated with an exhibit on UN initiatives and partnerships with indigenous peoples in the Philippines. It will culminate in October 2011 to jumpstart preparation for the 15th Anniversary year in 2012 of Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

The round-table discussion is one of the events organized by ILO, through the The Indigenous Peoples Development Programme (IPDP): Caraga Region, which is supported by the Government of Spain. Through these events, the ILO aims to:

• raise visibility of indigenous peoples concerns among legislators, policy makers and donors,
• highlight good practices and contributions of indigenous peoples to decent work and sustainable economic and social development, and
• support advocacy for the ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 in the Philippines.

For further information please contact

Mr Domingo Nayahangan
Project Manager, Indigenous Peoples Development Programme
Tel: +63 85 342 5939
Email