"Asia home to largest number of indigenous peoples: Activists building a movement in face of attacks," 09 August 2018

Asia is home to the largest number of indigenous peoples with an estimated 260 million from the 370 million original inhabitants worldwide. Despite this... Asian indigenous peoples face an array of challenges such as the denial of the right to self-determination, the loss of control over their land and natural resources, discrimination and marginalisation, forced assimilation and violent repression by state security forces. 

Despite these challenges, indigenous groups have continued to assert their rights, organize and mobilise across the Asian region. One organization that has played a key role is the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Foundation...AIPP has facilitated the growth of an alliance of no fewer than fifty indigenous organizations based in 14 countries in Asia, with twenty of those organizations based in Southeast Asia. 

In the Southeast Asia region, AIPP has effectively engaged with civil society groups through the ASEAN Civil Society Conference that has been held annually since 2005. Through their advocacy, indigenous issues have emerged as a specific area of focus addressed during each of the subsequent conferences/forums. AIPP has also obtained consultative status at the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and are working to gain recognition of indigenous peoples and their aspirations and grievances in AICHR’s ongoing work.

At the global level, AIPP has increased the participation of indigenous peoples in at relevant meetings of all UN bodies, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), the Forum on Business and Human Rights and Human Rights Council.