The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) joins the nation and the global community in the observance of the National Indigenous Peoples Day on 9 August 2025 in solidarity with the continuing struggle and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples across the Philippines.

This year’s global theme, “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures,” highlights both the opportunities and challenges brought by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) to Indigenous communities. While AI and digital technologies hold potential for positive transformation, such as preserving indigenous languages, enhancing education, and supporting environmental stewardship, they also raise serious concerns about data sovereignty, cultural appropriation, digital exclusion, and the reinforcement of systemic biases.

In the Philippine context, many Indigenous communities remain marginalised in terms of access to technology and digital infrastructure. This digital divide deepens the existing structural inequalities faced by Indigenous Peoples: ranging from land dispossession, displacement due to development aggression, and the lack of meaningful participation in governance processes, to threats against their cultural identity and autonomy.

Amid this, the CHR affirms the continuing relevance of Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA), which upholds the rights of Indigenous Peoples to ancestral domains, self-determination, cultural integrity, and social justice. In line with our mandate, CHR recently issued a position paper recommending measures to strengthen the protection and fulfillment of the rights of Indigenous cultural communities and Indigenous Peoples. These include safeguarding their autonomy, cultural integrity, and dignity, while reinforcing the accountability of institutions mandated to protect them. https://bit.ly/IPRightsAct1997

As AI increasingly informs decision-making in governance, development, and resource allocation, we emphasise the need for inclusive, rights-based approaches to digital innovation. Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems must not only be respected but meaningfully integrated in shaping technological futures. Data about Indigenous communities must be handled with full respect for their data governance rights, including control over how their information is collected, stored, used, and shared. This is to ensure safeguards against misuse, stereotyping, cultural appropriation, or surveillance.

In commemorating this day, we honour the rich heritage, vibrant traditions, and invaluable contributions of the country’s diverse Indigenous Peoples. We call for a future where technology empowers rather than excludes, and where innovation is grounded in justice, equity, and the full realisation of Indigenous rights. ###