E/CN.4/2003/90/Add.3 page 23 56. It appears that the intervention of government agencies concerned with indigenous human rights issues has been only partially successful to date in determining the facts of numerous cases, identifying and punishing the perpetrators, or bringing justice to the indigenous peoples, whether in Luzon, Mindoro, Mindanao or other provinces. The Special Rapporteur cannot escape the impression that numerous indigenous communities and organizations have lost faith in the ability of government agencies and the judicial system to address their concerns effectively. They appear at times to have given up on the wider democratic political system as a whole and wish rather to concentrate on building their own local organizations in order to address their immediate day-to-day concerns. V. UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM EFFORTS FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE RIGHTS OF PHILIPPINE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 57. The United Nations system organizations have also joined in numerous efforts for the promotion of the human rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines. UNDP is involved in a preparatory assistance project entitled “Empowerment of Indigenous Peoples for Sustainable Management of Ancestral Domains”, intended to develop indigenous peoples’ capabilities, including enabling policies, human resources development, and institutional and community-based mechanisms that would empower the indigenous peoples in their quest for self-determination, and strengthen the capacity of the Government and support groups to provide assistance for sustainable management of ancestral domains. The project further aims to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples to development, as recognized by both national and international laws. Another project entitled “Building Knowledge and Information Network of Indigenous Peoples through Information and Communications Technology”, aims to assist NCIP in strengthening its technical and institutional capacities. The project “Integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ancestral Domains in the Zambales Mountain Range”, will make practical use of indigenous knowledge systems and practices for the direct benefit of the indigenous communities living along its boundaries. 58. ILO carries out various projects under the “Inter-Regional Programme to Support Self-Reliance of Indigenous and Tribal Communities through Cooperatives and Other Self-Help Organizations (INDISCO)”. These involve activities aimed at testing alternative approaches to indigenous peoples’ development, taking into consideration the spirit and intent of ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, and focusing on strengthening the indigenous institutions with selected partner communities.32 The Asian Development Bank is involved in a Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project to benefit indigenous peoples in the context of a poverty reduction strategy.33 59. In 1999 six United Nations agencies working in the Philippines issued a Joint Statement of Principles Regarding Development Assistance to Indigenous Peoples. These principles include the right of indigenous peoples to determine and decide their own priorities for development and to participate fully at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect