Kuvassa vasemmalta Saamelaiskäräjien sosiaali- ja terveyssihteeri Anne Länsman-Magga ja WHO:n pääjohtaja Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Kuva: Anu Rantalaiho.

The WHO has approved a resolution on the health of Indigenous Peoples – the Sámi Parliament participated in the preparation of the resolution

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The World Health Organization (WHO) approved a resolution on the health of Indigenous Peoples at its Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly in Geneva on 27 May 2023. This marks the first resolution by the WHO that has been approved with regard to Indigenous Peoples. The Sámi Parliament took part in the preparation of the resolution.

Kuvassa vasemmalta Saamelaiskäräjien sosiaali- ja terveyssihteeri Anne Länsman-Magga ja WHO:n pääjohtaja Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Kuva: Anu Rantalaiho.
From the left: Anne Länsman-Magga, the Social Affairs and Health Secretary of the Sámi Parliamen and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO. Photo: Anu Rantalaiho.

Finland’s national address supported the approval of the resolution

In its own address, Finland highlighted the significance of services that are in people’s own language and in accordance with their culture, and especially of mental health services. Climate change will also impact the Sámi people in many different ways.

Finland also emphasised in its address that Indigenous Peoples must be engaged in decision-making and discussion. According to the Finnish address, knowledge production should also be carried out together with Indigenous Peoples.

Further information:

Tuomas Aslak Juuso
President
040 687 3394
tuomas.juuso@samediggi.fi 

Anne Länsman-Magga
Social Affairs and Health Secretary
040 182 9998
anne.lansman-magga@samediggi.fi

Inka-Saara Arttijeff
Secretary for International Affairs
050 574 7629
inka.saara.arttijeff@samediggi.fi

Welcome to participate in a Nordic online seminar: Indigenous peoples: Language, culture and life cycle

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Date and time: 31 August and 1 September 2021 at 12.30 – 16.00 EEST both days
Venue: Online seminar

How do we respect and implement rights of indigenous peoples with disabilities in the Nordic region?
What are the challenges to meet the needs of indigenous peoples with dementia in sparsely populated areas?

This two day online event will focus on the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities, while taking special account of people with dementia. The first day of this webinar will raise the issue of how the human rights intersect, highlighting key human rights obligations and recommendations from the perspective of both indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities. The second day of this webinar will focus on a vision and provision of future language- and culture-sensitive services particularly in sparsely populated areas, with a life cycle perspective.

The seminar is organised in cooperation between Nordic Welfare Centre, Nordic dementia network, Council of Nordic Cooperation on Disability, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Sámi Parliament in Finland, SámiSoster, Finnish Advisory Board for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities VANE and Finnish Human Rights Centre.

The event is open to anyone interested but registration is required (by 31 August at 12.30).

The program, more information and link to registration:

Indigenous peoples: language, culture, and life cycle (link to Nordic Welfare Centre’s website)
https://nordicwelfare.org/en/evenemang/indigenous-peoples-language-culture-and-life-cycle/