Peru
House of Lords
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
Lord Tebbit (Conservative)
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 6 July (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 446—49) concerning the indigenous peoples of the Republic of Peru, how they define such indigenous people; and what are their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Lord Brett (Government Whip (technically a Lord in Waiting, HM Household); Labour)
The Government make reference to the definition of indigenous people given in Article 1a of ILO International Labour Organisation (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention 1989, 169 Article 1, which stipulates that the International Labour Standards Convention applies to:
"tribal peoples in independent countries whose social, cultural and economic conditions distinguish them from other sections of the national community, and whose status is regulated wholly or partially by their own customs or traditions or by special laws or regulations".
The Government are not a party to this convention.
The Government recognise that indigenous individuals are entitled to the full protection of their human rights and fundamental freedoms in international law, on an equal basis to all other individuals. Human rights are universal and equal to all.