The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) warmly welcomes the visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) Ms. Irene Khan to the Philippines on January 23, 2024.

Her visit to the country advocates the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, a right that cuts across the four bundles of rights for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) as stipulated in Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997: Rights to Ancestral Domains / Lands, Rights to Self-Governance and Empowerment, Right to Social Justice and Human Rights, and Rights to Cultural Integrity. Respect of the fundamental mechanisms in expressing thoughts and communicating freely to affirm the dignity of Indigenous Peoples all over the country is indispensable in the fulfillment of these rights.

The visit of UNSR Ms. Irene Khan would serve as a great opportunity for the NCIP to showcase its initiatives concerning (a) Social Justice and protection services, (b) Recognition and support to IP women in leadership and governance, and (c) countermeasures of NCIP against discrimination to ICCs/IPs, including women, in social media and in society.

The NCIP is looking forward to a more in-depth conference with the UNSR to foster open dialogue and discussions on the efforts and commitment of NCIP to uphold the right to freedom and opinion among the ICCs/IPs resulting to the promotion and protection of their overall rights and well-being.