The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples visits Norway

The UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) is conducting a country engagement in Norway this week to closely examine how the rights of the Sámi are being upheld in relation to land encroachments.

The visit takes place from March 8 to March 14, 2024, following a request from, among others, the Saami Council and in collaboration with the Sámi Parliament. The visit will result in a report with recommendations on how Norway upholds indigenous rights through national legislation.

– This is the first time the expert mechanism is visiting Norway, and the purpose of the visit is, among other things, to get advice on how the right to free, prior and informed consent can be implemented in Norwegian legislation. It's important that the expert mechanism gets to meet and talk with Sámi communities, rights holders, representatives from various levels of government, and representatives from the private sector, says Eirik Larsen, head of the Human Rights Department of the Saami Council.

Particularly interested in land encroachments in Sámi areas

The UN has expressed an interest in hearing about how land encroachments affect the Sámi community, as well as the Sámi community's experiences with the consultation act, planning and building act, and energy and mineral legislation.

– Land encroachments in Sámi areas are on the agenda, and we will conduct site inspections at Laksefjordvidda and Rásttigáisá, Nussir and Repparfjord, as well as the wind power plants on Fosen. Furthermore, there will be meetings with affected Sámi, municipalities, and industry. We have worked for several years to make this visit happen, and the background is the immense pressure on nature and the foundation for Sámi culture. We hope that recommendations from the UN will contribute to improving Norwegian legislation and ensure that we never again experience a case like Fosen, says Larsen. 

Here is the full program:

Fri. March 8	Karasjok: Welcome and dialogue between EMRIP, the Saami Council, the Sámi Parliament, and the government
Sat. March 9	Site inspection of the Laksefjordvidda-/Rásttigáisá area: Meetings with rights holders, authorities, and industry.
Sun. March 10	Site inspection Nussir and Repparfjord: Meetings with rights holders, authorities, and industry
Mon. March 11	Internal meeting, UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Tues. March 12	Site inspection Fosen: Meetings with rights holders, authorities, and industry
Wed. March 13 – Thurs. March 14	Oslo: 1) Meetings in Oslo with NIM, Statkraft, and Fosen activists 2) Dialogue between EMRIP, the Saami Council, the Sámi Parliament, and the government at the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

About EMRIP:

EMRIP is an advisory body to the UN Human Rights Council, with a mandate to advise states on legislation and policy concerning the rights of indigenous peoples, including conducting country engagements with dialogue between states, indigenous peoples, and the private sector.