The government of Nicaragua ratified International Labor Organization Convention No. 169 on August 27, 2010. The convention is the only legally binding international instrument that specifically addresses Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Countries that ratified the document have used it as a framework for constitutional and legal reforms to ensure Indigenous Peoples rights are respected. In Guatemala Convention No. 169 was instrumental in the peace accords that ended 30 years of civil war between Indigenous groups and the government.
Through ratification of the convention, Nicaragua has committed itself to upholding the principles it contains, including the development of coordinated and systematic action to protect the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Nicaragua and to guarantee respect for their integrity. The establishment of appropriate and effective mechanisms for consultation and participation of Indigenous Peoples regarding matters that concern them is the essence of the convention.
To date 21 countries have ratified the convention, mainly in Latin America and Europe.
