The ILO’s strategy for action concerning indigenous and tribal peoples places the promotion of indigenous peoples’ rights squarely in the context of inclusive and sustainable development.*1 The strategy emphasizes the development of knowledge on the situation of indigenous peoples, which is of key importance as countries are setting out to devise new strategies and programmes to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. Over recent years, the ILO has undertaken a number of country studies on indigenous peoples in Asia, several of them jointly with the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and with the support of the European Union. The studies have shed some light on the present state of national laws and policies addressing indigenous peoples’ rights and issues. The present study, which draws on previous ILO and AIPP work, was prepared to provide a regional overview designed to inform future policy debates and interventions, and also to support efforts to promote the ratification of the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169), in the region. The report seeks to draw a realistic picture of major trends and challenges, and identifies impor tant new opportunities in the framework of the new global agendas on sustainable development and climate action, which call for specific attention regarding the rights and concerns of indige nous peoples