UN Experts on the Rights of Indigenous People Make Country Visit to Norway

The United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) made a country visit to Norway from 6-15 March 2024. During the visit, members of the delegation met with government officials, representatives of Sámi communities, private companies, the Norwegian Human Rights Institution, and NGOs. The Saami Council requested the EMRIP to make a visit to Norway to examine the rights of Sámi people in Norway, including their right to land, territories, and resources, and to ensure free, prior and informed consent.

The delegation included Antonina Gorbunova, Sheryl Lightfoot, and Binota Dhamai. The visit itself was aimed at providing Sámi people in Norway, their organizations and representative institutions, and the government of Norway with guidance on enforcing domestic legislation, and administrative measures, and implementing decisions of domestic courts and UN treaty bodies related to the cultural rights of Sámi people in the country.

Following the visit, the EMRIP expects to publish a technical advisory note, which will be made available on its website.  More information about the visit can be found at the website of the OHCHR.