Statement by the Saami Council at CBD’s commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Eirik Larsen, Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Saami Council. Photo: Private
Statement delivered by Eirik Larsen, Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Saami Council, as part of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
Thank you. I am speaking on behalf of the Saami Council, a participant of IIFB.
Today, on August 9, on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples across the world. We celebrate the extraordinary achievements made through the global cooperation by Indigenous Peoples.
From the establishment of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982, to the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, and the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in 2014, Indigenous Peoples and UN Member States have together established the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
The Declaration reflects and builds upon binding international human rights obligations, including the principles of non-discrimination, self-determination, and cultural integrity. As former UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya has emphasized, the core principles of the Declaration are grounded in international law and customary international law.
On this day, let us remind ourselves that these standards are not a ceiling – they are the minimum we have already agreed upon. We all share the responsibility not to weaken them through ambiguous language, inaccurate terminology, or by conflating Indigenous Peoples with other groups. Clear recognition of Indigenous Peoples is essential to the protection of our rights.
Happy International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Let us honor the progress achieved and recommit ourselves to upholding the standards we have collectively established.
Thank you.