Divers Paths to Justice - English - Forest Peoples Programme

Divers Paths to Justice: Legal pluralism and the rights of indigenous peoples inSoutheast Asiarights of indigenous cultural communities to their ancestrallands to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being.The Congress may provide for the applicability of customarylaws governing property rights or relations in determining theownership and extent of ancestral domain.Furthermore, Sec. 6 of Art. XIII states:The State shall apply the principles of agrarian reform orstewardship, whenever applicable in accordance with law, inthe disposition or utilisation of other natural resources,including lands of the public domain under lease or concessionsuitable to agriculture, subject to prior rights, homestead rightsof small settlers, and the rights of indigenous communities totheir ancestral lands.Finally, Sec. 17 of Art. XIV states:The State shall recognise, respect, and protect the rights ofindigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop theircultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall consider theserights in the formulation of national plans and policies.69