IIndigenous and tribal peoples number over 370 million individuals. They represent approximately 5,000 distinct peoples, and their cultures comprise a heritage of diverse knowledge and ideas that is a resource to the whole world. However, many have lost control over their own development path through different historical processes. They are often excluded from political participation and their economies are being undermined through their lack of control over land and resources. Consequently, indigenous and tribal peoples often constitute the poorest segment of society and they are disproportionately represented among the victims of human rights abuses, conflict, child labour, forced labour and trafficking. Indigenous women face additional gender-based marginalisation and discrimination.

Convention No. 169 is a comprehensive instrument, covering a wide range of issues, including land rights, access to natural resources, health, education, vocational training, conditions of employment and contacts across borders. The fundamental concepts of Convention No. 169 are consultation and participation, implying that indigenous and tribal peoples have the right to be consulted and to participate in policy, legislative, administrative and development processes that affect them, and to decide their own priorities for development.

The ILO Convention No. 169 is the only legally binding international instrument for protection of indigenous peoples' rights. The Convention has been ratified by 17 countries, but is setting standards far beyond the number of ratifications as a global reference point for the discussion and definition of indigenous and tribal peoples' rights.

The ILO has a double role in the area of indigenous issues: on the one hand, the ILO seeks to specifically promote and protect the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples based on Convention No. 169; and on the other, the ILO must ensure that indigenous and tribal peoples issues are taken into account, and that these peoples participate in broader programmes to promote employment and international labour standards. In both cases, the rights-based approach provided by Convention No. 169 should guide the ILO's work with the peoples concerned, with a particular focus on consultation and participation.

Since 1996, Danida has supported a specific project to promote ILO Convention No. 169 (PRO 169) with a view to ensuring that the contents and principles of this Convention will be better known and applied, inter alia, in relevant ILO projects, programmes and other activities (at Headquarters and in the field).