AIPP Annual Report 2010

The year 2010 was a year of significant growth and consolidation for AIPP. The implementation of its programs was not only sustained but was expanded in scope and level of activities as well, directly contributing to the greater visibility of AIPP at the national, regional and international levels.

At the same time, the functions of the governance structures of AIPP and its interaction with member-organizations were regularized. In the process, AIPP has become more dynamic in responding to key developments, issues and concerns of indigenous peoples in Asia. These achievements have contributed significantly towards the attainment of the over-all goal in strengthening AIPP as a regional organization for cooperation and affirming the dignity and way of life of indigenous peoples in Asia through the promotion of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The key achievements of AIPP in 2010 are as follows:

• Establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders Network as a forum for cooperation and solidarity between and among indigenous human rights activists
• Greater engagement with National Human Rights Institutions through networking and submission of cases/complaints and recommendations
• Mainstreaming of Asia IP issues and concerns with ASEAN and sustained engagement with the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and active networking and cooperation with civil society organizations relating with ASEAN
• Increased participation of Asia IP leaders and organizations in engaging with relevant UN bodies, mechanisms and procedures (UNPFII and EMRIP, UPR, ICERD, Special Procedures) through the facilitation and coordination of AIPP
• Development of advocacy capacity of IP leaders and organizations at the national level through the successful conduct of Advocacy Trainings on the UNDRIP; and the translation and localization of the UNDRIP Manual in different languages as resource material for the conduct of local trainings and education seminars
• Generation of greater awareness through the 11 publications of AIPP on different issues such as REDD and Climate Change, Traditional Livelihoods, Indigenous Peoples and the ASEAN, Indigenous Development, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, among others
• Wider recognition of AIPP through its active participation in conferences, meetings and workshops and increased advocacy and networking at the national, regional and international levels
• Increased collaboration and partnerships with UN agencies and other institutions in the conduct of different activities at various levels
• Greater participation of members and partners in program development through the successful conduct of Sub-Regional Meetings of AIPP members and partners and increased partnerships in direct program implementation at the local and national levels
• Increased capacity of the AIPP regional secretariat through the implementation of its Staff Development program, regular inter-program coordination meetings and hiring of additional staff members
• Increased funding of AIPP programs and activities from new funding partners and collaboration with other institutions and NGOs

Several challenges remain. These include the need to develop more innovative and creative forms of communication with members that have language limitations or lack communication facilities. Internally, there is the need to further develop the capacities of staff members and improve staff management to ensure greater synergy and complementation of tasks and responsibilities.

Some organizational matters also need to be systematized while policies related to finance and administration need further improvement and stricter implementation. Due to the increasing demands for indigenous peoples to occupy spaces in the regional and international arenas, more indigenous leaders need to be developed and capacitated with the needed skills and know-how on policy advocacy and networking. It is thereby important for member-organizations to develop leaders that can take on regional and international advocacy work as part of AIPP governing body.

Lastly, as AIPP’s work further expands in breadth and scope, finance and resource-generation will be a continuing challenge to sustain and upscale program implementation.

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