The ILO And Indigenous Peoples

The ILO has also drafted an important Convention - number 169 - protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. ILO Convention 169 requires governments to:

Identify and protect the traditional lands of indigenous peoples and establish legal procedures to deal with land claims

Safeguard indigenous peoples' rights to natural resources pertaining to their lands; consult with indigenous peoples before undertaking any resource exploration or exploitation to establish whether indigenous peoples' interests would be prejudiced

Enable indigenous peoples to participate in the benefit of resource exploitation and receive fair compensation for any damages sustained

This Convention is almost unique in focusing on the control of natural and other resources by indigenous peoples.