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ILO Convention (169) on Indigenous and Tribal People in Independent Countries

Name: ILO Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
URL to homepage: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/indigenous/
Country: Switzerland
 

Mandate

  • Obligation for States (Parties) to develop jointly with the interested people a coordinate and systematic action to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and to ensure their integrity (Article 2.1)
  • Require states to take measures that ensure the full realisation of the social, economic and cultural rights of indigenous peoples (Article 2.2a)
  • Convention implementation is to be implemented in consultation with indigenous peoples and their participation in the decision-making bodies which concern them (Article 6) [ref. 1]
  • Safeguard the environment of indigenous peoples (Article 4.1)
  • States must also assess the environmental impact of any development activities and, in cooperation with indigenous peoples, take measures to protect and preserve the environment of the territories such peoples inhabit (Article 7.3 and 7.4)
  • Rights of indigenous people to use, manage and conserve the natural resources pertaining to the lands they occupy, and share in the benefits of state-owned natural resources (Article 15) [ref. 1]

Relevance to forests by key words

Natural resources, ownership, traditional lands, indigenous people, benefit sharing, human rights, social development, cultural rights, environmental impact, local communities