Sámi victory in Supreme Court - Illegal wind farm on Sámi land
In October 11 2021, the Supreme Court of Norway stated in their decision that Norway violated the rights of the Sámi people by permitting the construction of the gigantic wind farm in Fovsen Njaarke, the Storheia wind farm and the Roan wind farm.
The Saami Council congratulates the Fovsen Njaarke reindeer herding districts with this important victory against the wind power company. According to the Supreme Court decision, the license to construct the power plants, as well as the expropriation permit, are invalid, as the decisions made by the Norwegian Government violate the rights of the reindeer herding Sámi communities to enjoy their own culture, as stated in article 27 in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“The Supreme Court decisions brought relief, but at the same time, it illustrates that Norway is an example of a nation state that is willing to sacrifice the livelihood of the Sámi people and human rights for the sake of industry and profit. The Saami Council expects Norway to face the consequences of this decision and remove the wind power plants in Fovsen/Fosen. Land is already lost, but the proven invalidity of the concessions demands for action”, says the President of the Saami Council, Christina Henriksen
The Saami Council points out that Norway, in December 2018, officially ignored a request by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to suspend the construction of the power plants within the traditional territory of the Fovsen Njaarke reindeer herding communities. The lack of respect for the decisions of UN bodies, and the lack of respect for human rights, is alarming. In 2019, the power plants were completed, and irreparable damage was done to the historical winter pastures of the Sámi community and its members' possibility to continuously pursue its ancient livelihood, traditional Sámi reindeer herding, the backbone of their cultural identity.
The Saami Council welcomes the Supreme Court decision, and expects Norway to follow up on their human rights obligations, also when they are at stake within Norwegian borders.
