RURELYN Bay-ao, the Indigenous Peoples Youth Representative of the Philippine delegation, believes that the United Nations has accepted her presentation about the true situation of indigenous people, especially the youth in the Philippines, and her call for support for IPs like her.
“First and foremost is the call to support the indigenous people’s advocacy for the implementation of the 11 building blocks in the entire indigenous communities here in the Philippines and the fact that the indigenous people are not being used in the wrong activities,” said Rurelyn Bay-ao, Youth Representative, Indigenous People.
Bay-ao serves as the Youth Representative of the Indigenous People of the Philippine Delegation to the United Nations Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held in New York City from April 16 to25, 2024.
Accompanying her are the members of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) led by Chairperson Jenny Sibug-Las and the Commissioners and Bureau Directors.
In the said forum, Bay-ao participated in the daily sessions and spoke in the side sessions and focus group discussions. She shared programs and good experiences with government agencies such as NCIP and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“It’s good because the issue of IPs and the youth here in the Philippines has been discussed, which has been listened to, heard and recognized by the UN body.”
“And the UN also promised that they are here to support the IP concerns,” said Rurelyn Bay-ao, Youth Representative, Indigenous People.
Bay-ao is also thankful to the Mindanao Indigenous People Youth Organization, the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIP-CPD), and the NCIP for the opportunity to represent the IP youth for the UN forum.
“Thank you very much for the help. I hope that I am not the only Indigenous youth who can attend such events, but that many other young people can as well,” added Bay-ao.
Bae Rurelyn Bay-ao, is the grandchild of Manobo tribal leader and Lumad rights advocate Bae Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay, also known for her moniker, “Mother of Lumads.”
Bae Rurelyn is among the many IP youth who surrendered to the government and returned to the fold of the law. She was inspired to advocate for the real situation of all Indigenous Peoples in the country and to shed light on the adversities faced by Indigenous children and youth under the communist terrorist group, the CPP-NPA-NDF.
