Indigenous Peoples’ health on the agenda at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

State Secretary Sigrid Ina Simonsen from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development participated on behalf of Norway and delivered a statement on behalf of the Nordic countries. 
 
– I am pleased to be present at the 25th session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The Forum is an important meeting place where Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, experts and states from all around the world can come together for inspiring dialogue, exchange of experiences, and the development of advice and recommendations to the United Nations on Indigenous Peoples’s issues, says Simonsen. 

This year’s theme: Indigenous Peoples’ health 

Each session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues focuses on a specific theme. This year’s theme is “ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in context of conflict”. 
 
State Secretary Simonsen addressed the session on behalf of the Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark together with Greenland, Finland and Iceland. 
 
In her statement, she highlighted Indigenous Peoples’ right to equitable and non-discriminatory access to health services. 
 
– In the Nordic countries, insufficient language and cultural competence within health services remains a challenge. Various measures have been implemented to strengthen this competence in health education and health services, with the aim of ensuring equitable and non-discriminatory healthcare for Indigenous Peoples, she said. 

Artificial intelligence for Indigenous Peoples 

Sámi University of Applied Sciences, the Sami Parliament and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development jointly organized a side event on the possibilities of Indigenous-based artificial intelligence (AI), and how AI can serve as a tool for Indigenous Peoples from a health perspective.
 
– Language technology and AI can be crucial in strengthening the use of Indigenous and minority languages by making digital tools, learning resources and public services more accessible. Indigenous Peoples’ languages must remain vibrant and be actively used across all areas of society. This is something we must discuss both nationally and globally, and it is positive that we are jointly placing this issue on the agenda at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, says Simonsen. 

Human rights defenders 

State Secretary Simonsen also delivered a statement at a side event on human rights defenders. Indigenous Peoples’ human rights are under pressure in many places, and some states use national legislation to threaten and punish human rights defenders. 
 
Russia was highlighted as an example of a country where the situation has deteriorated. On behalf of the Nordic countries, the State Secretary expressed serious concern for human rights defenders and called on Russia to ensure that national legislation is in line with international obligations in this field.