HISTORy Of THE ILO´S INVOLVEmENT wITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
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I N D I G E N O U S T R I B A L P E O P L E S ’ R I G H T S I N P R A C T I C E – A G U I D E T O I L O C O N V E N T I O N N O . 1 6 9
The International Labour Conference The Conference provides a forum for debate
and discussion on important social and labour issues. It adopts standards, and
is the principal policy-making body of the Organization. Each of the ILO’s 183 member
States is represented by four delegates to the annual ILO Conference. Two are from the
government, and one each from the national workers’ and employers’ organizations.
During the discussions concerning the adoption of Convention No. 169, a number
of indigenous representatives participated as members of delegations of workers,
employers and governments.
The Governing Body The ILO programme and budget are set by
the Governing Body, and approved by the Conference. It also sets the Conference
agenda. The Governing Body elects the Director-General of the ILO, its chief executive
oficial, for a period of ive years, and supervises the day-to-day operations of the
ILO Ofice. The Governing Body is composed of 56 members: 28 government members, 14
employer members and 14 worker members.
The tripartite constituents of the ILO also have privileged access when it comes to accessing
the ILO supervisory procedures related to ratiied conventions. However, indigenous peoples have
found practical ways to engage with the ILO supervisory bodies, often through collaboration with
workers organizations see sections 14.5 and 14.6.
Due to the characteristics of the ILO, its main government partner in member states is the Ministry
of Labour or its equivalent, however named. However, as the responsibility for indigenous
peoples’ rights often is the responsibility of a government body other than the Ministry of Labour,
the ILO can work directly with whatever institution the government has designated for this theme. Also,
the ILO technical cooperation activities see section 14.11 can directly address and include indigenous
peoples