Survival International was founded in 1969 to help tribal peoples to exercise their rights to survival and self-determination; to ensure that the interests of tribal peoples are properly presented in all decisions affecting their future; to secure for tribal peoples the ownership and use of adequate land and other resources and to seek recognition of their rights over traditional land.

"Tribal peoples number some 200 million, just 4% of the world's population. Too often treated as obstacles to progress, objects of study, the exotic showpieces of tourism or potential converts to another religion, they are, in fact, members of complex and viable societies with a sense of purpose, fulfilment and community that many in our 'modern' societies might envy. Their apparently simple technology enables them to live well in supposedly inhospitable areas which defeat our own 'high' technology... Meanwhile, we make deserts of their homelands and call it 'development'." (Survival publication)

Survival has an international secretariat based in London, national offices in France, Spain, Germany and Italy and some 12,000 members in 75 countries. Its President is Robin Hanbury-Tenison and among its supporters are Richard Gere, Claude Levi-Strauss, Glenda Jackson and Laurens van der Post. Its Director is Stephen Corry.

Survival works through projects and campaigns, education and publications. In 1995 Survival worked on six field projects and 63 cases of violations of tribal peoples' rights in more than 30 countries. Major successes in the past have included:

• A three-year vigil at Brazilian embassies until Yanomami land rights were recognised;
• The return of 900 Martu Aborigines to Western Desert lands in Australia, founded by Survival;
• The halting of a road project in the Central African Republic, saving the lands of 20,000 Aka 'Pygmies' after Survival lobbied the project's funders;
• Reduction of malaria deaths to 0.2% in Indian communities of Toototobi, Amazonia, as a result of Survival medical programmes.

Survival's educational work ranges from participation in international conferences to the organisation of public meetings and activities in schools. Its resources include films, videos, slide sets, photo exhibitions, a library and schools' teaching packs. It publishes a bi-annual newsletter, books and reports on special themes and Urgent-Action Bulletins calling on its supporters to act in defence of tribal people against some specific threat.

Characteristically, Survival chose to share the reception of its Right Livelihood Award with one of the native people with whom it is working closely; Davi Yanomami, a leader of the Yanomami Indians of Brazil.

Since Survival International received the RLA, the organisation has seen many more successes with the situation of tribal people improving in some places (e.g. parts of South America). This has enabled them to focus more on new cases in areas where there are grave threats (e.g. Botswana). Survival International’s attention is increasingly on tribal people who have the least contact with outsiders, these who have the most to lose.