"… all human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex. Have the right to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity…"
Declaration of Philadelphia, 1944

Convention No. 111 provides an important framework for promoting the rights of indigenous women and men to equality and decent work in line with the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) and the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous peoples' equal access to decent work that respects their needs and aspirations is not only a matter of human rights, it is a crucial to the attainment of international and national development objectives.

This guide, which is part of a broader effort by the ILO to support the development and implementation of national laws and policies guided by international labour and human standards, is intended to serve indigenous peoples and their representatives as a source of information and a tool for engaging with policy and decision makers. It is also a tool for the broader development community, including international and national development professionals.