Sacred Site of the Kogi in San Miguel, Colombia

    Human rights The rights of Indigenous Peoples

    Around 5,000 Indigenous Peoples, comprising over 475 million people, live in some 90 countries around the world. Indigenous Peoples only account for around 6 per cent of the world’s population, yet they make up 19 per cent of those living in poverty.

    The rights of Indigenous Peoples are an integral part of the BMZ’s human rights strategy and therefore central to the BMZ’s work. Germany ratified the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (ILO C-169) in 2021, reaffirming its commitment to champion the rights of Indigenous Peoples internationally and in its partner countries.

    In the context of German development policy, the active participation of Indigenous Peoples is a key prerequisite for safeguarding their individual and collective human rights. The BMZ advocates for the rights of Indigenous Peoples not only through its involvement in United Nations bodies but also in its bilateral policy dialogue with countries that are home to Indigenous Peoples.

    Furthermore, the BMZ promotes the implementation of the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples. This includes, for example, FPIC protocols developed by Indigenous communities in Brazil, Peru and Colombia. These protocols help facilitate the non-violent resolution of conflicts of interest.


    As at: 02/11/2026