Sámi Rights

On 8–9 March, the Council of Europe reviews how Sweden complies with  the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Prior to the review, Civil Rights Defenders has submitted...

Voices from Defenders’ Days Close-up with Julia Rensberg, Sámi human rights defender in Sweden.  Until recently, Julia was a board member of Sáminuorra, the Sámi national youth organisation. Today, sh...

Civil Rights Defenders announces support for Sami organisations’ projects for increased cooperation between indigenous peoples. The projects may, for example, involve joint investigations, the p...

For many years, the UN and the Council of Europe have sharply criticized how Sweden lives up to the international documents regulating indigenous rights such as the right to land, water and influence ...

In 1977, the Sami People were recognised as an indigenous people in Sweden – yet, every day, Sami rights continue to be violated by the Swedish state. Below, we list three major areas in which Sweden ...

The date is approaching for the government’s decision on Beowulf Mining’s application for permission to mine iron ore (mining concession) in Gállok/Kallak outside Jokkmokk. Affected reindeer herding d...

The British company Beowulf Mining wants to mine iron ore just outside Jokkmokk in Norrbotten County. But a mine would cause environmental problems and violate the rights of the Sami People who live i...

Welcome to a webinar on the natural resources and human rights issues in Sápmi, focusing on the current situation and how we can act together. Civil Rights Defenders and the Swedish Society for Nature...

On January 23, Sweden’s Supreme Court announced its verdict, approving Girjas Sami village’s claim against the Swedish State for land and water rights. Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the ...

Following Sweden’s Supreme Court ruling on January 23 2020, confirming the Girja’s Sami village land and water rights in the Sami traditional territory, we have received more and more reports of...