Saami Council met in Helsinki members of the Environmental Audit Committee of the British Parliament (EAC).

FREE TO PUBLISH AT ONCE The representative of Saami Council was head of the human rights unit Mr Mattias Åhrén. In the hearing was also present representative of Saami Parliamentarian Council, officer Ms Kati Eriksen. - Saami Council informed the Committee about the Saami human rights violations in Finland. Finland violates the Saami human rights by logging the important reindeer grazing areas to Saami reindeer herding without equal negotiations with party concerned, says head of the human rights unit Mattias Åhrén. - The Committee seemed to be very informed about the matters regarding the Finnish forestry and wanted more information regarding the Saami culture and Saami reindeer herding, and especially on how the logging impacts the traditional Saami reindeer herding, continues Mattias Åhrén. Saami Council sent on September 29th to the Committee the attached letter regarding the Environment Audit Committees evaluation of the various forest certification systems recognized by UK through its PEFC – Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes. EAC Sub-Committee is currently running a timber inquiry and the Committee invited Saami Council to a hearing. Finland has been mentioned several times during this inquiry. The EAC is appointed by the British Parliament House of Commons to consider the contribution of the policies and programmes of government to environmental protection and sustainable development and to report thereon. Contact person: Mattias Åhrén, head of the human rights unit, +46 733 990 535 More information: Saami Council +358 (0)16 677 351 www.saamicouncil.net

Mattias Åhrén. Foto: Áile Jávo. Kuva 293px.