Know about us

Who we are

The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center - Kasama sa Kalikasan (LRC-KsK/Friends of the Earth-Philippines) is a policy and legal research and advocacy institution. It is organized as a non-stock, non-profit, non-partisan, cultural scientific and research foundation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It started its actual operations on February 1988. The Organization is the Official member of the Friends of the Earth International (FOEI).

LRC-KsK's overall mission is to work for the empowerment of marginalized indigenous peoples and rural communities directly dependent on natural resources. The Center believes that it is through the empowerment of women and men in marginalized communities directly dependent on our resources that a sustainable, equitable and gender-just use and stewardship of our natural resources is viable. This mission is accomplished through a dynamic, cohesive, independent organization of dedicated, committed and fulfilled women and men as working communities of direct users of natural resources. The center's main advocacy has been the recognition and protection of the rights of the indigenous people and rural communities directly dependent on natural resources as essential components of any program on sustainable development and more importantly, social justice and human rights. Empowerment is essential, but it is not the only requirement to achieve meaningful reforms. The peoples' aspirations must eventually be adopted, articulated and implemented by the State. Hence, The Center seeks to catalyze changes in laws, policies and structures and to assist and facilitate the development of capacities of local communities in asserting their rights and effectively addressing inequities.

Brief History

LRC-KsK/FoE-Philippines was founded on Dcember7, 1987 by activist lawyers who wanted to use the law to rectify injustices and empower marginalized sectors, specifically indigenous peoples and upland rural poor communities. The prevailing injustice and repression during Marcos' Martial Law regime and even under successive government in its aftermath reflect the lamentable fact that the legal system has not been serving its proper purpose as an instrument by the people for redress. Chronic social ills such as persistent and widespread poverty were often dismissed within the legal profession as mere individual deficits and occupational hazards - rather than viewed as serious social justice issues rooted in historical and structural inequities.. Thus, the grinding poverty and powerlessness borne by local communities and the realization of the need to effect change in the well-entrenched legal system that effectively obscures the rights of marginalized peoples had impelled these lawyers-advocates to set up policy and legal research and advocacy institution.

Over the past nineteen years, LRC-KsK/FoE-Philippines has continually affirmed its view that the law performs a historical, cultural, economic and polotical role. The law is not monolithic. It contributes to a reality that is multi-layered and  multi-dimensional. It reflects the balance of social, political and economic power at a given historical moment. The struggle for the recognition of rights of marginalized sectors and the oppressed is not only a contest of the better articulation of norms, but a collective and continuing effort of each women and men in indigenous peoples' and rural poor communities to effectively assert and realize, their rights and aspirations, and to exercise their sovereign will as citizens and peoples. Critically engaging the legal and policy landscape with our partners continues to be an important focus of this ongoing struggle and where the center will contribute to relevant change.

Our Vision

LRC-KsK envisions a society where the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities are respected, recognized and upheld. We aspire for a society for all women and men where the ownership, use, management, conservation of our natural resources are carried out in a democratic, ecologically sustainable, culturally appropriate, economically viable, gender just and equitable manner.

Our Mission

LRC-KsK's overall mission is to work for the empowerment of marginalized peoples' directly dependent on natural resources, which is accomplished through a dynamic, cohesive, independent organization of dedicated, committed and fulfilled women and men working with communities of direct users of natural resources. The Staff are trained to do creative, effective, efficient, gender responsive policy advocacy.

Our Values

The core values that inspire and motivate our work are our belief in upholding:
1. Human rights and indigenous peoples' rights
2. Social, economic, political and gender justice
3. Unity, diversity and interdependence
4. Individual and collective professionalism

Goals

The two main goals of LRC-KsK/FoE-Phils. are:
1. To catalyze change in laws, policies and structures; and
2. To assist and facilitate the development of capacities of local communities in addressing inequities.

Themes

LRC-KsK's main themes would focus on as follows:

1. Assert indigenous peoples' rights particularly in the areas of ancestral domain rights, sustainable and culturally appropriate economic livelihoods and traditional political institutions or customary laws

2. Assert resource tenure that is gender-just, locally determined, equitable, ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate. Specific areas to focus on: community property resource regimes ( specifically those involving lands including upland agricultural forest areas, mines, inland waters and potential energy system), natural resource extractive industries, and sustainable alternative options.

3. Strengthen local people empowerment through genuine participatory approaches in local and national governments and private activities, undertakings, project and programs affecting communities, particularly in the areas of Local Government  Code, International Finance Institutions and other private institutions, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Areas of Operations

 We also work with relevant progressive organizations, non-government organizations, church groups and like-minded individuals locally, nationally and internationally.

 LRC-KsK's policy advocay work shall cover local government units, the national government and relevant international forums.

 All forms of partnerships and involvement shall be in line with the Center's rules of engagement.