An unacceptable attack on Indigenous Peoples Human rights advocates in the Philippines

An official statement from the Saami Council, the Saami Parliaments and the Saami Parliamentary Council on the unacceptable attack on Indigenous Peoples Human rights advocates in the Philippines.

The Saami Parliaments in Finland, Sweden and Norway, the Saami Parliamentary Council and the Saami Council draw attention to the fact that a Petition was filed last month by the Government of the Philippines naming several human right advocates, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and Ms. Joan Carling as terrorists. We strongly object to this, as this is clearly an act of harassment and repression against Indigenous Human Rights defenders and outspoken critics of the regime.

The Saami Parliaments in Finland, Sweden and Norway, the Saami Parliamentary Council and the Saami Council support the statement made by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and call on the Philippine authorities to immediately drop these unfounded accusations against Ms. Tauli-Corpuz and Ms. Joan Carling and to ensure their physical safety and that of others listed.

We strongly encourage the Nordic states and the Russian Federation to take action against the Philippine authorities on this matter.