RRI is delighted to share news that Vicky Tauli-Corpuz” the Executive Director of Tebtebba” and member of the RRI Board” has been nominated to become the next United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The nomination was made at the UN Human Rights Council’s 25th session. The Council’s President made a decision to appoint Vicky for the position based on the recommendations made by the Consultative Group.
Ms. Tauli-Corpuz is the founder of Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education) based in the Philippines” which has been an RRI Partner since 2010. Tebtebba works in partnership with Indigenous Peoples’ organizations worldwide to promote a better understanding of the world's Indigenous Peoples” their worldviews” their issues and concerns. She belongs to the Kankana-ey Igorot peoples of the Cordillera region in the Philippines” and was one of the leading indigenous activists lobbying for the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) by the UN General Assembly. She is the former chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2005-2010).
Additionally” Ms. Tauli-Corpuz has served as an Expert for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights” and the chairperson-rapporteur of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations. She was the indigenous and gender adviser of the Third World Network. She has also authored numerous books and publications on indigenous human rights” sustainable development and women empowerment and social roles.
The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is to investigate human rights violations against Indigenous Peoples and provide recommendations to the Human Rights Council and governments around the world to improve their situations. When the Human Rights Council formally appoints Ms. Tauli-Corpuz” she will become the first ever woman to hold the post.
At RRI” we offer our warmest congratulations to Vicky. We have the utmost confidence in her ability to take on this significant and exciting new task” and look forward to continue working with her to improve the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and forest communities across the world.