● There should be more intense discussion on impacts of climate change on food
production with the indigenous communities; and how they can adapt;
● Provide more technical and financial support for combatting the impacts of climate
change;
● The Philippine government must prioritize and include as part of their COVID-19
responses - access to maternity care, pre- and post-natal health care, availability of an
accessible health care facility within their community and a free and easy-to-access
healthcare procedures that are culturally sensitive and non-discriminatory and that also
recognizes indigenous medicine and health practices;
● Include mental health support programs in the health services for the
communities;
● Utilize government resources to support indigenous women in their leadership roles such
as mediating peace and facilitating humanitarian response;
● Install local disaster-emergency response mechanisms that encourage and strengthen
community participation, particularly that of indigenous women and girls;
Policy
● Ensure the meaningful participation of indigenous women at all levels and include them
in planning, consultation, implementation, and monitoring;
● Indigenous agricultural practices and knowledge must be recognized and provided with
technical and financial support;
● Institutionalize inter-agency collaboration between the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and other relevant agencies to provide appropriate, relevant
support for indigenous women and girls (i.e. with the Department of Education, or with
Department of Agriculture, or Department of Health);
● Government offices, especially those whose mandates have specific interests to protect,
promote and fulfill indigenous women’s rights (i.e., NCIP, PCW, DILG, LGUs), should
exercise such mandate with urgency and with constancy;
● Conduct dialogues and consultations with indigenous women to collaboratively
determine solutions and responses to the challenges they face, especially amidst the
pandemic and in the upcoming elections;
● Regular monitoring and documentation of the situation of IP communities particularly of
women and children;
● Develop and implement policies that strengthen and institutionalize support for access
and control of women over their land and natural resources;
● Implement R.A. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act fully; RA 9710 or Magna Carta
of Women; and R.A. 10068 or the Philippine Organic Agriculture Act;
● Review and repeal laws that institutionalize red tagging or criminalization of human rights
defense work, such as R.A. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law;
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