Preface he International Labour Organization (ILO) was created in 1919 bringing governments, employers and trade unions together, to work for social justice and better living and working conditions. Fifty years later, in 1969, it received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its commitment to the goal of equality and justice for all. The ILO is not widely known, especially outside of labour and trade union circles. It is the lead United Nations (UN) agency specializing in labour rights, and has a mandate which encompasses a range of socio-economic issues. The ILO has been actively engaged in protecting and promoting human rights, but its work in this field has been largely overlooked and it has not been given due attention as a viable forum for issues other than labour questions. The ILO’s work has centred on, but not been limited to, the working environment, and included issues such as forced labour, freedom of association, migrant workers, night work, social security, etc. But it has also been working on children, discrimination, gender, and indigenous peoples and minorities – issues that many people would not automatically associate with the working world. The ILO’s strength can be seen in the international Treaties it has adopted. They are based on general topics which are common to many countries, and can be applied all over the world. ILO Treaties identify minimum standards to help guide work at the national level, and have been used to encourage the development of domestic legislation and labour codes to improve the protection of labour rights.1 The ILO has also set up a system to monitor the application of its standards (i.e. international legal standards or instruments – to include Conventions, Treaties etc). This system includes a number of bodies and processes to assess the extent to which a country is meeting its international obligations. In this way, attention has been drawn to various human rights abuses, including child labour issues in Brazil and India, forced labour in Burma, and the position of women in Afghanistan. In today’s world of liberalized trade and the integration of economies, the impact of globalization has varied from country to country, and sector to sector. In some countries there is increased productivity and wealth, while in others inequalities have become deeply entrenched – with the poor getting even poorer. This has had the gravest impact on vulnerable groups, including minorities and indigenous peoples. It is important to try T to ensure that lowered trade barriers and greater competition are not achieved at the cost of lowered social protection. The link between trade and labour is central in the globalization debate, and has renewed interest in the ILO’s work. It is therefore useful for organizations and individuals to learn about the ILO and how it works, and to fully explore its potential in pursuing equality and justice for all. It is for this reason that Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and Anti-Slavery International are publishing this Handbook on the ILO. Its main purpose is to provide an introduction to the ILO, and the openings it provides for defending and promoting the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples.2 It gives the reader an overview of the ILO’s main structures, committees and working methods, in an accessible format, and with practical advice on their use. While the Handbook is specifically designed for minorities and indigenous peoples, and for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – whether minority or indigenous NGOs, or NGOs working with minorities and indigenous peoples – it can be used by anyone wishing to learn more about the ILO, and human rights enforcement and protection. The ILO’s partners, in particular the workers’ organizations, have taken a leading role in monitoring the application of ILO Conventions. The Handbook builds on their experiences in understanding the relevance and importance of international labour standards in improving living and working conditions. Indigenous peoples, minorities and NGOs can learn from their vast experience in gaining access to, and participation in, the ILO’s procedures and processes. It is hoped that this publication will make a small contribution towards strengthening the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples, and other vulnerable groups. Anti-Slavery International Minority Rights Group International May 2002 THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION: A HANDBOOK FOR MINORITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 3