Finnish gov pulls bill to ratify convention on Indigenous peoples’ rights
The Juha Sipilä administration has withdrawn draft legislation from the Finnish Parliament that would strengthen Sámi rights.
The cabinet said on Thursday in a letter to the Parliament that it would withdraw a 2014 bill intended to ratify an international agreement on the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples.
Finland has debated the ILO’s convention 169, which protects the rights of indigenous people, for 30 years. Lawmakers have been looking at draft legislation to ratify the convention since 2014, but did not get around to debating it before the 2015 parliamentary elections.
Progress on the bill has stalled over the contentious issue of Sámi land rights.
On Thursday the government justified pulling the draft legislation by saying that it contains outdated provisions, for example, relating to the role of the forestry management agency Metsähallitus. Parliament’s Constitutional Law Committee has already provided a statement on the bill, so it will not be possible to incorporate possible changes before another general election due in April.
Working with Sámi Parliament
Once a new government takes office later this year, it will have to work with the Sámi Parliament to revise the previous legislative proposal.
So far, the Justice Ministry has negotiated the bill with the Sámi Parliament, which has also recommended deferring action on the proposal to a new administration on the grounds that a delay of a few more years will not mean any significant changes to Finland’s ratification of the convention.
The task of ratifying the ILO Convention 169 as well as a Nordic Sámi Convention and reforming the local Sámi Parliament will therefore fall to the incoming administration.
Correction: The draft bill shelved in the Finnish Parliament refers to ILO Convention No. 169, which relates to the rights of Indigenous peoples. The original article incorrectly stated that the bill referred to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canadian government apologizes to Ahiarmiut Inuit for forced relocations in Nunavut, CBC News
Finland: Indigenous Sámi community weighs in on Finland’s truth and reconciliation process, Yle News
Norway: Political support for Norwegian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Report sheds light on Swedish minority’s historic mistreatment, Radio Sweden
United States: Inuit leaders meeting in Alaska seek greater voice in governance, Radio Canada International
