In preparation for lobbying in the UN Human Rights Council for the actual Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the Philippines in May 2017, the NCCP sent a delegation in Geneva Switzerland. Ms. Johanna May Dela Cruz, and Mr. Kerlan Fanagel, a Lumad leader, chairperson of Kalumaran-Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (Advocates and Defenders of Patrimony, Environment and Creation) attended the 32nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) from June 14 to 22, 2016. Ms. De la Cruz and Mr. Fanagel were set to deliver two oral statements at the Economic and Social Council Interactive and General Debate sessions following the report of Dr. Chaloka Beyani, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons. Dr. Beyani was able to visit the displaced Lumad at the Haran Compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in Davao City last July 2015. The UCCP is a member of the NCCP.
The first oral statement was about the plight of the uprooted and militarized Lumad of Mindanao. The paper presented the deplorable conditions of the internally displaced Indigenous Peoples, particularly of those people who fled their homes in Talaingod and Kapalong and sought refuge at UCCP Haran in Davao City. The intensified militarization, extra judicial killings, and closure of IP schools were also mentioned in the report. Mr. Fanagel was able to read this statement on the 21st of June, during the General Debate session. The other oral statement highlighted the Kidapawan Incident. Unfortunately, this Oral Statement was not presented in the session.
Apart from the Oral Intervention, they were able to do lobbying work by meeting different representatives from the United Nations Special Rapporteurs team and other UN bodies, the World Council of Churches (WCC), and NGOs such as the Franciscans International. During these meetings, Mr. Fanagel was able to share the situation of Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao. He shared especially about the horrific stories of harassments and attacks of para-Militaries (being used on behalf of the AFP), extra judicial killings of Lumad leaders, military encampments in the communities, and halting of Lumad Schools. These lobbying efforts were able to gather support for the following “tasks”: 1)Continue supporting the initiatives of our indigenous peoples for them to go back to their lands and homes; 2) Support the call to pull out the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Para-Military group (supported by the AFP), and leave the Lumad on their own, so they can pursue their lives in peace without fear and intimidation; 3) Hold the Philippine Government accountable for the gross human rights violation inflicted upon the IPs; 4) Support the international outcry to pursue justice for the Lumad, and in general, support the Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines, whose rights and collective rights have been gravely violated by the state and its military agents.
Their presence in Geneva was also an opportunity to do some networking and linkaging with international NGO’s.###
