Statement on behalf of the Nordic Baltic countries (NB8) delivered by H.E. Mr Magnus Hellgren, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN, at the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 17 September 2026
Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries - Denmark together with Greenland, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and my own country, Sweden.
We thank the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for its study and for its continued engagement on issues of importance to Indigenous Peoples.
The study’s topic deserves continued attention, not least given the wide-ranging and often long-lasting consequences of conflict. As the study highlights, Indigenous Peoples can play an important role in efforts to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace, while Indigenous women and girls often bear a disproportionate share of the consequences of conflict.
We look forward to a constructive exchange on how the rights of Indigenous Peoples can be effectively promoted and protected, and to learning from the experiences, perspectives, and good practices shared during our discussions. In this regard, I would like to extend a special acknowledgement to the Indigenous Peoples’ representatives participating today, whose contributions are greatly valued.
In light of the study’s findings, what concrete steps can States take to uphold Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination and ensure their meaningful participation in conflict prevention, peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction?
Thank you.
