The UN stops the establishment of a mining project in Rönnbäcken

The UN stops the establishment of a mining project in Rönnbäcken and calls on Sweden to revise its mining legislation as to ensure that it respects and complies with the Sámi people’s rights as an indigenous people; larger industrial establishments on Sámi territory are illegal without consent!

In summary, the decision of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination means that industrial establishments of size in the Sámi traditional territory are prohibited without the consent of Sámi rights holders. The Swedish state must take direct and active responsibility to ensure that this right is respected. It is not sufficient that the state refers this responsibility to the Sámi reindeer herding communities and industry to find ”consensus solutions”. In addition, Sweden must adjust its legislation so that it allows the Sámi Reindeer Herding Communities the opportunity to effective redress in the event of violations of their rights.

Read more at Saami Councils webbpage: https://www.saamicouncil.net/news-archive/un-stops-mining-project-in-ronnbacken