The Saami Council: Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation Representing at the Arctic Council!!!
The Saami Council is one of the oldest indigenous peoples' organisations,
representing approximately 80,000 Sámi people in Finland, Norway, Sweden and
Russia (Kola peninsula). Established in 1956, the organisation enjoys the status
of NGO. Its primary goal is to develop and advance independent cultural and
political cooperation among the Sámi organisations in these countries. It aims
at establishing solidarity among all the Sàmi as one people. The organisation promotes
Sámi interests and their legitimate rights, both nationally and internationally.
It is gaining recognition within the national legal framework as a legitimate proponent
of their cultural, political, economic and social rights. Finally, the Sàmi seek
to participate in national and international negotiation processes on issues
affecting their rights and concerns.
Since the 1970s the Saami Council has
increasingly been involved in international efforts to develop universal standards
for indigenous peoples' rights. In 1975, the Council participated in establishing
the World Council for Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), a worldwide organisation which
the Saami Council formally joined. It enjoys consultant status at the United
Nations Economic and Social Council (EcoSoc), through which it freely and
independently represents the Sámi at the meetings and processes related to
indigenous peoples. It also had an Observer status at the UN Working Group on
Indigenous Peoples (WGIP) that prepared the draft UN Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples.
The Saami Council is recognised as an active player
in the regional and transnational governance framework. For example, it
actively participates in the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation (BEAC) framework.
Within the structure of the Arctic Council, it enjoys the status of Permanent
Participant, participating in all levels at the Arctic Council on issues concerning
environmental protection and sustainable development of the Arctic.
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