Indigenous rights in Europe

Half a year after the historic complaint by Sámi reindeer herders from Finland was filed with the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is renewing its call on the Finnish government to take the case as a wake-up call and respect the rights of the Sámi. Since the beginning of 2026, the complaint has been the subject of an ongoing review by the UN Human Rights Committee.

The 33 plaintiffs from Muddusjärvi accuse the Finnish state of endangering their livelihoods and cultural existence through decades of deforestation and inadequate climate policy. Their complaint was officially submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva on June 24, 2025. This is a significant step for indigenous self-determination in Europe, as it is the first lawsuit by a Sámi community that jointly asserts forestry and climate impacts as human rights violations, explains Gerrit Hofert, human rights advisor at STP.

Despite the significance of the case, the Finnish government missed its chance to take a stand: it could have submitted a statement by October 15, 2025. Starting this year, the UN Human Rights Committee will discuss the case during its sessions. However, it could take years before a final decision is reached.

“The survival of the indigenous Sámi is threatened by climate change and the actions of the Finnish government. What the Finnish authorities are selling as climate protection is in reality overexploitation: forests are being destroyed and reindeer trails are disappearing,” explains Hofert. According to those affected, the state forestry agency Metsähallitus has cleared almost half of the winter pasture forests. Combined with climate impacts such as ice crusts after rainfall in winter, this leads to massive reindeer mortality – and thus threatens a centuries-old, sustainable way of life. UN bodies have repeatedly criticized Finland for failing to give the Sámi a say and for not recognizing their land rights.

“The Sámi have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. Climate policy at the expense of indigenous ways of life destroys not only the environment but also cultural diversity,” says Hofert. “For a just ecological transition, indigenous communities must be included in decisions. Finland must fulfill its human rights obligations and finally respect the rights of the Sámi,” Hofert demands. Specifically, Finland must enshrine the Sámi's right to self-determined development and land use in law, ratify ILO Convention 169, stop mining and forestry where indigenous areas are being destroyed, and guarantee genuine Sámi participation. Only then will the so-called green transition be compatible with international human rights standards.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.