A/HRC/45/34/Add.3 including through impacts on their livelihoods and overall environmental degradation.64 The company has engaged in dialogue with special procedures over human rights concerns. On 15 October 2019, the company announced publicly that it had suspended its operation of the Didipio mine. The action of the special procedures may have had a role in prompting the company to recognize its human rights responsibilities. Disputes have persisted in 2020, however, along with allegations that certain activities by the mining company are still being carried out. The Special Rapporteur has publicly reiterated her concerns over the mining project.65 62. In Thailand, the Special Rapporteur has repeatedly raised concerns over attacks against the Karen in the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex by park officials working under the Ministry of Environment. The attacks include the enforced disappearance of the Karen human rights defender Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, known as Billy, in 2014. He was last seen alive in the custody of officials of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. In September 2019, Billy’s charred remains were found in the vicinity of the Forest Complex. The suspected park officials were charged for Billy’s murder by the Department of Special Investigation on 23 December 2019.66 However, on 23 January 2020, the Attorney-General’s Office dropped the murder charges, citing insufficient evidence, and the outcome of the investigation remains uncertain. The Special Rapporteur will continue to monitor the situation and recalls the importance of establishing accountability. 67 G. Sustainable Development Goals and economic, social and cultural rights 63. The Sustainable Development Goals are designed to leave no one behind. All the Goals relate to the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples, even if they are not mentioned in these specific terms. Only two targets refer directly to indigenous peoples: target 4.5, on equal access to education, and target 2.3, on increasing agriculture productivity and incomes. 64. Asia is not on track to meet any of the Sustainable Development Goals. 68 Indigenous peoples continue to face high levels of poverty and remain marginalized in national development efforts across the region. The loss of their traditional lands, territories and resources entrenches the impoverishment of indigenous peoples, and the lack of basic rights, such as to education and health services, reflects the discrimination and exclusion that indigenous communities continue to face. Data is not available for two thirds of the indicators related to the Sustainable Development Goals, which means that those left behind cannot be measured. The lack of disaggregated data on indigenous peoples means they continue to be invisible in policy design and in the consciousness of majority populations. 69 65. Participants in the regional consultation discussed the need to reverse the top-down approach regarding the Sustainable Development Goals. There is no recognition of collective rights, which are of crucial importance for indigenous peoples, especially in terms of land tenure. Indigenous peoples continue to confront intersectional and multiple forms of discrimination relating to gender, disability, age and sexual orientation, factors which all require consideration in effective policy measures. Due to their marginalization, many indigenous peoples are unaware of their rights. Scarce allocations for public services in indigenous territories are compounded by poor road conditions. In several countries in the region, people without birth registration and identification papers are stateless and are denied access to basic social services. This is a major obstacle impeding indigenous peoples’ access to education and health services. 66. In terms of education, participants noted that indigenous children are disadvantaged in school by the failure in several countries to provide education in indigenous languages, 64 65 66 67 68 69 14 PHIL 1/2019 and OTH 2/2019. See also https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34621. See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25850&LangID=E. See www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1822474/former-park-chief-charged-on-6-counts-inbilly-murder-case#cxrecs_s. THA 4/2020, THA 2/2019 and A/HRC/45/34, para. 24. See www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/publications/ESCAP_Asia_and_the _Pacific_SDG_Progress_Report_2020.pdf. See https://indigenouspeoples-sdg.org/index.php/english.

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