RAIPON: Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North!
The Russian Association of
Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) is an association of small populations
of indigenous peoples in the North, Siberia and Far East Russian Federation. It
was founded in 1990, creating an umbrella organisation for 41 ethnic indigenous
peoples including Evenki, Tozhu, Tofa and Soyot. These groups are culturally
distinct and diverse in terms of livelihoods connected to Arctic natural
resources. Their total population is approximately 270,000, within Russian
North, Siberia and the Far East, occupying around 60 percent of total Russian
territory. The RAIPON enjoys the status of NGO, promoting human rights and
defending the legal interests of its members concerning rights to land and
natural resources. The organisation promotes indigenous self-governance and offers
assistance to its members in accordance with international human rights law as
well as with Russian national regulations on environmental, social, economic,
cultural and educational issues. At the national level, RAIPON works closely
with the Duma, the Russian Parliament, and with the Government of the
Russian Federation on legislation having affecting its members. In the Arctic
Council, the RAIPON acts as one of the six Permanent Participants, and
contributes to the functioning of the Arctic Council, including working groups,
and also participates in several international processes. RAIPON enjoys a
special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council,
allowing it to participate regularly in sessions related to indigenous issues.
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