The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions Engaging with indigenous peoples requires recognition and respect for the collective nature of indigenous communities. Therefore, it is important that in advocating for indigenous peoples’ human rights, NHRIs should: • Recognize and have regard for the collective nature of indigenous peoples’ human rights • Show respect for indigenous cultures and differences, particularly decision-making processes • Comply with the principle of free, prior and informed consent (see Chapter 3 for more information). Free, prior and informed consent is rooted in the right to self-determination and requires the active engagement of indigenous peoples in actions which may impact their lives.182 The vulnerability of indigenous peoples to human rights abuses was the catalyst for a bilateral project between the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, which ran from 2008 to 2010. A central aim of the project was to build the capacities of indigenous communities in the Philippines to identify, investigate, verify, document and monitor human rights violations affecting their own communities. It also sought to equip them with the skills and knowledge to more effectively advocate for their rights. The project used a human rights community development approach to address priorities for indigenous communities, by focusing on developing the skills and knowledge of indigenous peoples to enable them to act as agents of change for their own communities. The Declaration and ILO Convention No. 169 provided the human rights framework. After engaging with indigenous communities and adopting a process based on free, prior and informed consent, three indigenous groups were identified to participate in the project. These indigenous groups led the identification of human rights issues of concern affecting their own communities and played a central role in developing and implementing action plans aimed at addressing those issues of concern. The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, with the support of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, assisted the three indigenous communities and provided ongoing support to help ensure the operationalization and sustainability of the project.182 In addition to adopting a human rights-based approach, NHRI engagement with indigenous peoples should be consistent with the following principles that coincide with key themes in the Declaration: • Non-discrimination • Equality • Gender equality • Self-determination • Collective rights • The right to define and decide development priorities.183 182 Philippines Commission on Human Rights and the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, Building Human Rights Communities: The experience of three indigenous peoples in the Philippines (2011). 183 United Nations Development Group, Guidelines on Indigenous Peoples’ Issues (2009), pp. 12-16. 54 | Chapter 6: Accessibility of NHRIs to indigenous peoples