Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1996)

1. The Committee notes with interest the Government's first report following ratification of the Convention, and is addressing a request directly to it asking for more information. The Committee notes, furthermore, the communication sent by the Popular Federation of Peasant Farmers on the application of the Convention, which was received shortly before its session. The Committee hopes that the Government will send detailed comments on this communication to be examined in its next session.

2. The Committee recalls that the ratification of the Convention was one element in the settlement of the internal conflict in the country, which -- as indicated in the preamble of the 1996 Peace Agreement -- "brought an end to more than three decades of armed confrontation in Guatemala". It notes in this respect that the ILO continues to play a part in the implementation of the Peace Agreement, and that considerable technical assistance is being provided from the international community for this purpose.

3. The first report is a brief one, and on a number of questions the Government indicates simply that the mechanisms set forth to implement the Peace Agreement have not yet concluded their work. The Committee requests the Government to report in detail on the progress achieved in implementing the obligations undertaken under the Peace Agreement and the Convention. It looks forward to a more detailed report in reply to its present comments, and encourages the Government to continue working with the assistance of the Office to create the necessary conditions for the Convention's full implementation.