Rural Women Status Report on CEDAW 2011

Indigenous Women

PKKK Thematic Papers_2

Rights of INDIGENOUS WOMEN

When the Rural Women Agenda was consolidated, it was the tri-people women in Mindanao
who intensely articulated the concern for the fulfilment of property rights in ancestral
domain (Agenda 2) and the pursuit of peace agenda in Mindanao (Agenda 8).1
In the Philippines, there are 15 to 20 million indigenous peoples or 12 to 16% of the total 80
million 140 ethno-linguistic groups. 2 They can be found in 50 of the countrys 78 provinces.
Currently, the NCIP roughly estimates the number of IPs in the Philippines to 110 groups or
tribes with an estimated total population of around 12 million found in the various parts of
the country based on a listing done in 19964. Region XI has the highest total population
with about 2.5 million, followed by Regions X has 1.4 million and CAR has 1.3 million. 3
Despite the passage of IPRA and the creation of NCIP to effectively enforce the law, many
ethnic groups are still struggling over the ownership and control of their ancestral lands. 4
Based on the NCIP report5, of the total 6 million hectare target of ancestral domains, only 20
percent had been accomplished from 2002 until 2007. This constitutes 58 CADTs and 172
CALTs issued covering 1,209,479.2434 hectares with 263,060 rights holders. Conflicting
government policies, complicated procedural guidelines, budgetary constraints, overlapping
boundaries and tenurial instruments are but a few reasons delaying delineation and titling.
Indigenous Women
Indigenous women continue to claim their participation in decision making. CEDAW and
MCW push further that their voices be heard and considered in community concerns,
considering that male members of the indigenous community often comprise the council of
elders.
Recent developments cited that indigenous women organize and influence traditional
justice systems, as in the case of the Teduray Lambangian Women Organization Inc. These
women settle divorce cases, prosecute VAWC offenders, participate in public hearing for
ancestral domain claims and engage in Peace and Development issues in Mindanao. They
pushed for a community-based measure (Temporary Special Measure) against Early Marriage
and oppressive situations of polygamy.
It was cited in TLWOIs 2010 research that these women continue to air their concern on the:
lack of electricity in Upi and South Upi; limited health services, reproductive health services,
health facilities and personnel; high illiteracy in Barangay Rifao and Itao; cheating tactics of
politicians for illiterate population impacts of climate change on crops and livelihood; unsafe
drinking water due to mine tailings; displacement due to armed conflict of military, MILF,
MNLF, NPA; and early marriage.

PKKK. Cedaw and Rural Women Agenda: Indigenous Peoples .2010.

AIWN.Asian Women Indigenous Network. 2007.
3
Nscb.gov.ph
4
PKKK. Cedaw and Rural Women Agenda: Indigenous Peoples .2010.
5
NCIP Annual Report CY 2007, p. 22
2

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There is a high incidence of earlyarranged marriage in Teduray communities. Children as

young as 9 to 11 years old had been arranged to marry. However, the incidence could be
attributed more to the economic pressure rather than culture, i.e. in many cases, dowry
served as stop-gap measure in addressing the familys survival needs.
Indigenous women are not spared from the issue of trafficking and prostitution. Coalition
Against Trafficking in Women shared that Indigenous women trafficked came from the
following ethnic groups: Blaan, TBoli, Kaulo, while the Moros are Maranao, Mandaya,
Badjao, Sama, Manobo and Lumad. 6 Documentatlists thought that the culture of silence in
the ethnic groups prevent women and their families from reporting victimization to
trafficking and prostitution. (Jean Enriquez, 2007)
The 2011 National Women IP gathering in South Cotabato presented a series of issues of
indigenous women. These include: discrimination as indigenous peoples, non recognition of
traditional care for womens health and reproductive health, problematic implementation of
4 Ps, degradation of the environment, threat to life of indigenous women leaders.
In the 5th PKKK Congress, rural women observed that there are division among Indigenous
Peoples in terms of Free Prior Informed Consent before a mining company can operate in one
community. This destroys the collective and communal way of life of the indigenous
peoples.
Peace and Development
Peace is not just the absence of armed conflict according to rural women leaders of the 5 th
Congress, it is also a matter of safety. There is a need to expand the Peace Agenda. Lack of
peace is a threat to a womans life, it may be in the form of criminality, harassment or
armed conflict.
The Peace issue in ARMM has alarmed the CEDAW committee. In the 2006, CEDAW
Concluding Comments to the Philippines. As cited from the Committee Report, paragraph 29
states;
The Committee expresses its concern about the precarious situation of rural and indigenous
women, as well as the Muslim women in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, who
lack access to adequate health services, education, clean water and sanitation services and
credit facilities. The Committee is also concerned about womens limited access to justice in
cases of violence, especially in conflict zones, and the lack of sanctions against the
perpetrators of such violence....7.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has named a woman representative Atty. Raissa Jajurie or
Bai Cabaybay Abubakar, as the MILF's "first ever woman member" in the panel talking peace
with the government. 8 Jun Mantawil, said that they see the importance of the views of a
professional Muslim woman in our quest for peace, thus the decision to name one.
6

Jean Enriquez. Documenting Cases of Violence Against Women, Particularly Trafficking and
Prostitution. 2007.
7

Concluding Comments of the Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against

Women: Philippines 36th session, 7-25 August 2006

Rural Women Status Report on CEDAW 2011

Indigenous Women

PKKK Thematic Papers_2

The Table Below presents some Laws/Programs that may promote or hinder gender equality
and recommendations from PKKK.
Indigenous
Women

Laws/Policies/ Programs
that Promote Gender
Equality

Laws / Policies/
Practices/
Programs that
Hinder Gender
Equality

Recommendation from
PKKK based on
GRRWDP

Ancestral
Domain

Republic Act 67349 titled An

Act Providing for an Organic
Act for the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao

Mining Act

Faster delivery of
services in terms of CADT
claims

Development
Projects that are
anti IPs

Republic Act 8371 otherwise

known as the Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of
1997.
Basic Services

CEDAW Committee Report

2006 paragraph 29
TLWOI Recommendations
as Annex

Women

Article 3 and 5, CEDAW

Section 26 of MCW

Peace

Section 29 of MCW Peace

and Development

Right to Self
Determination

Republic Act 8371 otherwise

known as the Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of
1997.

Implementation
of 4Ps not
appropriate for IP
women because
areas are far,

Gender Responsive
Family courts in resolving
VAWC cases
WISE
ACT
Thematic
Paper Recommendation
as Annex

Reforestation for Carbon

Trading
Respect for Sacred

http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/news/13-top-stories/7424-milf-names-firstwoman-peace-panelist.html
9

RA 6734 was signed on August 01, 1989

Rural Women Status Report on CEDAW 2011

Indigenous Women

PKKK Thematic Papers_2

Section 28 of Chapter 5 on
Rights and Empowerment of
Marginalized Sectors
stipulates the Recognition
and Preservation of Cultural
Identity and Integrity

PRESS RELEASE
March 11, 2013

Spaces

References:
Froilyn Tenorio-Mendoza, TLWOI & IPDev:
09197484018
Maria Daryl Leyesa, PKKK: 09217425360

300 Lumad Women in ARMM build unities

towards engaging the Bangsamoro Basic Law
Three hundred (300) Lumad women from various tribes in ARMM held an Indigenous Peoples (IP)
Women Summit in the Municipality of South Upi, Maguindanao to build their unities on the
Bangsamoro Basic Law. The tribes represented were the Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan
Manobo, and the Higaonon tribes, which have ancestral lands located in the core areas identified
in the Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro (FAB).
In observance of the Womens Month, the Lumad women gathered to review and reaffirm their
agenda as support to the ongoing peace-building processes in Mindanao. They drafted an IP
Women Declaration bearing their recommendations on development in the context of recognizing
ancestral domains, wealth-sharing vis--vis upholding indigenous economic values and practices,
natural resource use vis--vis promoting environmental protection, security vis--vis respecting
tribal justice systems, and good governance vis--vis fulfilling womens rights.
The FAB clearly stipulated the right of women to meaningful participation and protection from all
forms of violence. For the IP women in the Bangsamoro core areas, this would entail building a
strong constituency behind a common message and addressing immediate challenges along the
way, said Fintailan Froilyn Tenorio-Mendoza of the Teduray Lambangian Womens Organization
(TLWOI) and also newly appointed member of the Transition Commission on the drafting of the
Bangsamoro Basic Law.
One of the challenges is bringing the discussion on FAB at the community level, especially in the
remote indigenous communities within Bangsamoro. The IP Women Summit was regarded as
first of a series of consultative processes that would further deepen the discussion on key issues
of indigenous women in Bangsamoro, i.e. prevailing poverty and lack of basic social services,
high maternal mortality rate, early arranged marriages among girl children, incidence of violence
against women, impacts of environmental degradation, and displacement from ancestral lands.
Many of these conditions have been linked one way or another to the general condition of armed
hostilities in the past.
What can be initially considered in the FAB is that womens rights are guaranteed in various
laws: Magna Carta of Women (MCW) recognizes the equal rights of indigenous women to the
utilization of natural resources in their ancestral lands, Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)
protects the cultural integrity of the indigenous communities including the role of indigenous

Rural Women Status Report on CEDAW 2011

Indigenous Women

PKKK Thematic Papers_2

women as spiritual leaders or bliyan libun, and the National Action Plan (NAP) respects the roles
of indigenous women as peace keepers such as the kefeduwan libun of the Teduray Lambangian,
Datu Bai of the Higaonon, Boi of the Dulangan Manobo, added Tenorio-Mendoza.
In attendance were also the male tribal leaders of the Higaonon tribe from Wao, and the
Dulangan Manobo from Ampatuan, and the Teduray Lambangian tribes from Datu Odin Sinsuat,
Upi, and South Upi. Key agencies represented were the National Commission on Indigenous
Peoples (NCIP), Philippine Marines, Office of the IP Representative in the Regional Legislative
Assembly, and the local government unit of South Upi.
The IP Women Summit was organized by the Teduray Lambangian Womens Organization
(TLWOI), IP Dev, and the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), in
partnership with the Conciliation Resources and OPAPP. #

Rural Women Status Report on CEDAW 2011

Indigenous Women

PKKK Thematic Papers_2

PAHAYAG NG PAGKAKAISA ng KATUTUBONG KABABAIHAN

sa BINUBUONG BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW
Kinikilala ang batayang karapatan ng mga katutubong pamayanan sa kanilang lupang
ninuno bilang salalayan ng kanilang buhay, kultura, katauhan at pagkakakilanlan, at
batayan ng kanilang karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya;
Tinataguyod ang isang proseso ng kapayapaan na nakaugat sa pagkilala, katuparan, at
proteksyon ng karapatang pantao ng lahat, na walang tinatangi batay sa kasarian,
kultura, lahi o kulay, edad at iba pang katayuan sa buhay;
Isinusulong ang lipunang may pagkakapantay-pantay at dumidinig sa boses ng lahat, lalo na
ng mga maliliit at kadalasang naisasangtabi na pamayanan at grupo sa lipunan;
Nananawagan ang mga lider kababaihan ng mga tribung Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan
Manobo, at Higaonon, na tiyakin ang mga sumusunod na karapatan ng mga
katutubong pamayanan sa loob ng binubuong Bangsamoro Basic Law;
A. Malaya at Mapayapang pamumuhay sa loob ng Lupaing Ninuno.
Makakamtan ang lubos na kalayaan at kapanatagan o seguridad sa loob ng mga
lupaing ninuno kung naririyan ang:
(1) Tukoy na teritoryo ng mga katutubong komunidad, may tiyak na mga
hangganan o territorial boundaries sa pagitan ng mga tribu. Nararapat na itoy
pangasiwaan ng Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) na matagal nang dapat
isinakatuparan sa loob ng Bangsamoro core areas. Kaalinsabay nito ang
pagbibigay tulong sa mga tribu sa kanilang pagbubuo ng aplikasyon para sa
ancestral domain claims at pagpapatibay ng mga dokumentasyon ng mga
kasaysayan at tradisyon, gaya ng isinusulong na Bangsa Mamalu;
(2) Pagkilala sa katutubong sistema ng pamamahala at hustisya, kung saan
naisasabuhay at napapalago ng tribu ang kanilang mga tradisyon, kasaysayan
at paniniwala. Sinasakop ng sistemang pangkultura ang buhay pampulitika,
pangekonomiya, at panlipunang relasyon ng mga kababaihan at kalalakihan
sa tribu, kaya nararapat lamang na itoy palaguin ayon sa mga batayang
karapatang pantao. Gayundin nararapat na ituring ang katutubong sistema
bilang lehitimong batayan sa pagresolba ng mga maaring di-pagkakasundo sa
pagitan ng magkakaibang katawhan sa tribu, Moro at settlers;
(3) Paggalang sa patuloy na pag-oorganisa ng mga samahan ng mga katutubo,
lalong higit sa bahagi ng mga katutubong kababaihan, tungo sa isang
demokratiko at malusog na pamamahala;
(4) Makataong pamamahala na naghahatid ng serbisyong edukasyon at
pangkalusugan sa mga liblib at napag-iwanang komunidad ng mga katutubo
lalo na sa mga kabundukan at mga baybaying komunidad. Ang akses sa
edukasyon ang siyang nakikitang paraan upang lumaya sa kahirapan at
magsilbing depensa sa patuloy na pang-aabuso, gaya ng pagiging biktima ng
mga kabataang kababaihan sa illegal recruitment at trafficking, o di kaya ay
ang pagkaagaw ng mga katutubong lupain dahil sa mga pribadong
korporasyon. Serbisyong pangkalusugan naman ang magtitiyak na
maampatan ang mataas na inisidente ng pagkamatay sa mga babaeng

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Indigenous Women

PKKK Thematic Papers_2

nagbubuntis (maternal mortality) at ang mga kabataang malnourished sa

tribung komunidad.
B. Proteksyon sa Likas na Yaman. Sa pagpapanatili ng integridad ng lupaing ninuno
bilang simbolo ng buhay, mahalaga ring maisakatuparan ang:
(1) Makatwirang gamit sa yamang lupa, kabundukan at katubigan, na may
permiso mula sa katutubong pamayanan at pamunuan. Ang makatwirang
paggamit ay nangangahulugang nakabatay sa likas na kapasidad ng pisikal na
kapaligiran na matugunan ang batayang pangangailangan ng mamamayan,
lalo na ang pagseseguro ng pagkain;
(2) Pagbabawal sa anumang gawain na makakasira o magsisilbing banta sa
kalusugan, pinagkukunan ng pagkain at tubig-inumin, tirahan at kultura ng
tribu, lalong higit kung magiging banta sa salalayan ng buhay ng susunod na
henerasyon;
(3) Palakasin ang mga tradisyon na nagpapakita ng payapang palitan ng mga
produkto sa lipunan, na namamagitan sa mga katutubo at Moro. Ang
prinsipyong nakapaloob sa kasaysayan o tradisyon na ito ay maaring batayan
ng isang maktwirang pagbabahaginan ng likas na yaman;
C. Pagpapalakas sa mga Kababaihan. Bigyang halaga ang kontribusyon ng
kababaihan sa pagpapanatili at pagbubuo ng mga payapang komunidad sa
pamamagitan ng:
(1) Patuloy na suporta sa pag-oorganisa ng mga kababaihang katutubo at
pagseseguro ng kanilang karapatang maging bahagi ng pagdedesisyon at
pamamahala sa lahat ng antas;
(2) Pagbibigay halaga at suporta sa gawain ng mga lider kababaihang katutubo
mga Kefeduwan Libun, Boi, Datu Bai na sa maraming pagkakataon ay susi sa
pagreresolba ng mga kaso at di-pagkakasundo sa komunidad;
(3) Patuloy na proteksyon sa kababaihan mula sa anumang uri ng pang-aabuso,
karahasan at diskriminasyon dulot man ito ng hindi-na-angkop na tradisyon
(hal.maagang pag-aasawa sa batang kababaihan) o di kaya ay dulot naman
ng mapanlinlang na mga kalakaran (hal.trafficking at prostitusyon).

PINAGKAISAHAN at pinagtibay ng higit 300 kababaihang katutubo, kasama ang ilang lider
kalalakihan, sa isinigawang IP WOMEN SUMMIT 2013: BUILDING UNITIES TOWARDS
ENGAGING THE BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW noong ika 1- Marso 2013 sa Bayan ng South Upi,
Maguindanao.