The Finnish authorities have decided today on 16 November to interrupt logging activities in Nellim area used for reindeer herding in Lapland.

Three reindeer herdsmen from Finnish Lapland have on 10 November 2005 addressed a communication to the UN Human Rights Committee established by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The authors of the communication allege that the loggings constitute a violation of articles 14 and 27 of the Covenant, as well as article 27 read in the light of article 1.

On 14 November 2005, the Committee’s Special Rapporteur on New Communications and Interim Measures has transmitted the communication to the Finnish Government for observations on admissibility, to be submitted to the Committee within two months. The Committee has also requested the Finnish Government to refrain from conducting logging activities in the 12 stands designated for logging that are situated within the area used by the Nellim herding group or in any other parts of that area that would affect the exercise by the authors of reindeer herding. The Committee has noted that its request does not imply that any decision has been reached on the substance of the matter under consideration.