Survival International ('Survival' for short) is an organisation set up in 1969 to promote and protect tribal peoples' rights. Its offices are based in Europe but it has tens of thousands of supporters worldwide.

The main ones are the rights of tribal peoples to own, communally, the land and territory they have always lived on and used, and to choose how they wish to live.

It turns public attention onto governments and companies which are violating tribal peoples' rights. Thousands of Survival supporters write letters to those in power and Survival ensures these cases attract press attention around the world.

It educates the public that tribal peoples are not inferior or 'primitive', but just live differently from other peoples.

Survival generally seeks cases where the people are least able to get their voice heard by outsiders, and so need most help. These are often where a tribe has little contact with outsiders in any given country or area. It takes up cases where the people are victims of the worst violations.

Once a case has been adopted, Survival tends to work on it for a very long time - 20 years or more is not uncommon - until its specific goals have been met.

This is not Survival's principal activity. In some cases, Survival will look for funds for specific projects with tribal peoples (to assist their health care, education, marketing, organisations etc.) But you should not rely on this.

If you need funds for a project, you can ask Brot fur die Welt, Christian Aid, Cordaid, ICCO, Trócaire and other agencies. Survival can help you contact them.

Survival is entirely independent of all other organisations but works closely with many - particularly organisations formed and run by tribal peoples themselves.

Some other organisations have similar names to Survival but are not in fact connected to us. You can recognise anything from the real Survival by its handprints symbol.

Survival is the only large organisation working for tribal peoples all over the world which refuses to accept funds from any national government. It is funded by individual supporters and by some other charitable organisations. It also receives funds from some indigenous organisations themselves.

Over the years, well over 250,000 people in nearly 100 countries have supported Survival. When Survival asks its supporters to write to governments and companies, thousands of letters are sent.

No, Survival is a not-for-profit organisation. Its accounts are strictly controlled by independent auditors and by England's Charity Commission. All its funds are used to further its work with tribal peoples.

No. Survival pursues no religious objectives other than to support tribal peoples' rights to choose their own religions.

It works with missionaries who support tribal peoples' rights, but opposes those who force their own beliefs on others.

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No. It does sometimes meet with companies to put the case for tribal peoples' rights, or accompany tribal peoples to meet with companies - but it is not connected to any company.

Survival does not accept funds from any company which violates tribal peoples' rights or is likely to do so.

No. Survival works to protect their rights and to repeat their concerns internationally, but it never negotiates or makes agreements in their name, nor does it claim to represent them.

The only exceptions are that Survival has sometimes been asked by the recognised representatives of a tribe - after extensive discussion with their people - to negotiate on their behalf about a specific situation or issue. An example of this is when Survival is asked to represnt a tribe to the United Nations (UN).

Also, tribal representatives often use Survival's special status at the UN to put their own cases, but speaking under Survival's name.

No. Survival has no opinion about how tribal peoples should be in the future - it believes they should be allowed to decide for themselves. Survival believes that tribal peoples - like all peoples - have always adapted to changing circumstances, and will continue to do so.

Survival produces books, bulletins, and newsletters about particular cases and our work in general, and audio tapes especially for tribal peoples. These are available free to all tribal people - contact us if you want to receive them.

Many tribal peoples use these materials to take part in campaigns for other people, writing letters, signing petitions, or just expressing support.

Keep Survival informed of what is happening in your area. All information is carefully studied. If Survival takes up your case then it is especially important to keep Survival informed, giving as many facts as possible.

It is not possible for Survival to take on all cases - but please keep us informed, and we may be able to help in the future.

Tell others about Survival's existence, and what it is and does.