Government of Finland fails to ratify the ILO 169 on Saami Rights

Government of Finland fails to ratify the ILO 169 – Saami organisations called to urgent meeting on Monday.

Despite eight years of negotiations between the Saami Parliament and the Government of Finland, the Parliament did not ratify the ILO 169 convention today. Last minute attempts to influence the Parliament failed.

The acting Saami Parliament President, Mrs. Tiina Sanila-Aikio, summarised that the decision is greatly damaging to the relations between the Saami and the state.

Saami feel betrayed, she added. Relations between the state and the Saami have reached all time low, and a ’significant statement, significant sign of trust’ is needed urgently to restore trust, negotiations and relations between the two parties. International pressure will mount early in the week as the UN Permanent Forum is paying special attention to the developing situation.

Snowchange Cooperative is closely involved in high-level negotiations between the government and the Saami, following the ILO 169 decision, to break the impasse.