76 LABOUR RIGHTS and others at five-year intervals. Workers’ and employers’ organizations can make observations on the application of Conventions, which are brought to the attention of the Committee of Experts, which uses the information to supplement periodic reports of governments.20 Workers’ and employers’ associations can also file representations (a form of complaint) against a state under Art. 24 of the ILO Constitution. If declared receivable, these are examined by a committee set up by the Governing Body to determine whether a violation has occurred. The Governing Body normally requests the government concerned and the Committee of Experts to follow up on its decisions within the regular reporting mechanism. The ILO has received several representations under Art. 24 of the ILO Constitution by trade unions alleging violations of Convention No. 169, which demonstrates the practical relevance of this Convention for the protection of indigenous and tribal peoples and other minorities. The problems raised in these representations tend to indicate a lack of effective involvement of these peoples in decisions taken at the national level that affect them, particularly in relation to land rights and development issues. The ILO supervisory bodies have urged governments to take measures to involve indigenous and tribal peoples in decisionmaking processes by way of proper consultation, including in the design and implementation of policies and programmes relating to them. Guidelines for successful advocacy There are many ways in which indigenous and minority representatives and advocates can promote their interests in international organizations, but it is necessary to learn the procedures and the possibilities of each one. At the national level, non-governmental organizations can make known inside the country the rights contained in international standards and the decisions made by international bodies on how their own country is performing. Comments by the ILO Committee of Experts or the UN treaty bodies often contain a tremendous amount of information, which can be a powerful lobbying tool. International treaties are often incorporated into national law, according to the national constitution. If the ICCPR and ICESCR are formally part of the legal structure of a country, or if ILO Convention No. 169 becomes national law because of ratification, this means they can be invoked in court even where national laws have not yet incorporated their provisions. The way of taking account of international standards is not the same in every country. Training courses for lawyers, judges and advocates are sometimes organized by the UN, the ILO, and NGOs. UN and ILO training materials are available through their websites or local offices.