An Examination of Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent: A Case Study of Sveaskog and the Swedish Forestry Industry
(2024) LAGM01 20241Faculty of Law
Department of Law
- Abstract
- Forests are vital for global biodiversity, environmental sustainability and are intrinsically linked to the cultural survival of Indigenous peoples. The Sámi traditional reindeer herding practices depend on forest ecosystems. However, the expansion of commercial forestry in Sweden has led to significant conflicts over land use, with the Sámi people’s rights frequently being de-prioritised in favour of economic interests.
This thesis examines the challenges faced by the Indigenous Sámi people in Sweden regarding forestry management operations, with a particular focus on their right to consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). It addresses a critical gap in the implementation of Indigenous rights in the Global North,... (More) - Forests are vital for global biodiversity, environmental sustainability and are intrinsically linked to the cultural survival of Indigenous peoples. The Sámi traditional reindeer herding practices depend on forest ecosystems. However, the expansion of commercial forestry in Sweden has led to significant conflicts over land use, with the Sámi people’s rights frequently being de-prioritised in favour of economic interests.
This thesis examines the challenges faced by the Indigenous Sámi people in Sweden regarding forestry management operations, with a particular focus on their right to consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). It addresses a critical gap in the implementation of Indigenous rights in the Global North, particularly in Sweden, a country known for its strong human rights record. Using Sveaskog, Sweden's largest state-owned forestry company, as a case study, the thesis explores the practical challenges of realising FPIC. The thesis explores the intersection of Indigenous rights, international environmental biodiversity, and corporate responsibility to respect human rights in the context of Swedish forestry practices. This research contributes to understanding how international human rights standards for Indigenous peoples are implemented, especially in the context of state-owned enterprises.
Findings indicate that the accepted international minimum norm is that Indigenous peoples' right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) should be understood as a sliding-scale framework. This means that the level of participation and consent required from Indigenous peoples varies depending on the potential impact of the proposed activity on their rights. While Sweden recognises the Indigenous peoples’ right to consultation and FPIC, its practical application within domestic legislation does not fully align with the international minimum norm. Sámi reindeer herders often face challenges in meaningful participation in decision-making processes affecting their rights. Sveaskog’s consultation practices, while somewhat aligned with international standards, fall short of best practices for implementing FPIC. The thesis concludes that effective implementation of Sámi rights requires more robust domestic legislation enforcing human rights due diligence in forestry management and adopting a sliding-scale approach to FPIC. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Skogen spelar en viktig roll för den globala biologiska mångfalden, klimatet och är kopplade till urfolks kulturella överlevnad. Samernas traditionella rennäring är beroende av skogens ekosystem. Expansionen av kommersiellt skogsbruk i Sverige har dock lett till betydande konflikter om markanvändning, där samernas rättigheter ofta nedprioriteras till förmån för andra ekonomiska intressen.
Denna uppsats undersöker de utmaningar som det samiska urfolket i Sverige möter gällande skogsbruksoperationer, med särskilt fokus på deras rätt till samråd och fritt och informerat förhandssamtycke (FPIC). Uppsatsen adresserar en kritisk lucka i implementeringen av urfolksrättigheter i det globala nord, särskilt i Sverige, ett land känt för sitt... (More) - Skogen spelar en viktig roll för den globala biologiska mångfalden, klimatet och är kopplade till urfolks kulturella överlevnad. Samernas traditionella rennäring är beroende av skogens ekosystem. Expansionen av kommersiellt skogsbruk i Sverige har dock lett till betydande konflikter om markanvändning, där samernas rättigheter ofta nedprioriteras till förmån för andra ekonomiska intressen.
Denna uppsats undersöker de utmaningar som det samiska urfolket i Sverige möter gällande skogsbruksoperationer, med särskilt fokus på deras rätt till samråd och fritt och informerat förhandssamtycke (FPIC). Uppsatsen adresserar en kritisk lucka i implementeringen av urfolksrättigheter i det globala nord, särskilt i Sverige, ett land känt för sitt starka arbete för mänskliga rättigheter. Med Sveaskog, Sveriges största statligt ägda skogsbolag, som fallstudie, utforskar uppsatsen de praktiska utmaningarna med att förverkliga FPIC. Uppsatsen undersöker rättsliga överlappningen mellan urfolksrättigheter, internationell miljörätt om biologisk mångfald och företagens ansvar att respektera mänskliga rättigheter inom ramen för svenskt skogsbruk.
Resultaten indikerar att den accepterade internationella miniminormen är att urfolks rätt till FPIC bör förstås utifrån ett ’sliding-scale’ ramverk. Detta innebär att graden av deltagande och samtycke som krävs från urfolk varierar beroende på den potentiella påverkan som den föreslagna aktiviteten har på deras rättigheter. Medan Sverige erkänner urfolks rätt till samråd och FPIC, överensstämmer dess praktiska tillämpning av lagstiftningen inte helt med den internationella miniminormen. Samiska renskötare möter ofta utmaningar med deltagande i beslutsprocesser som påverkar deras renskötsel. Sveaskogs samrådsrutiner, även om de i viss mån är i linje med internationella standarder, når inte upp till bästa praxis för implementering av FPIC. Uppsatsen drar slutsatsen att ett effektivt genomförande av samiska rättigheter kräver mer robust svensk lagstiftning som verkställer företagens skyldighet att genomföra due diligence avseende mänskliga rättigheter inom skogsbruket och antar en ’sliding-scale approach’ till FPIC. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9175125
- author
- Mustafaeva, Dilshodakhon LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- LAGM01 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- international human rights law corporate social responsibility human rights due diligence business and human rights Indigenous rights Free, Prior, and Informed Consent self-determination biological diversity
- language
- English
- id
- 9175125
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-23 08:04:01
- date last changed
- 2024-09-23 08:04:01
@misc{9175125,
abstract = {{Forests are vital for global biodiversity, environmental sustainability and are intrinsically linked to the cultural survival of Indigenous peoples. The Sámi traditional reindeer herding practices depend on forest ecosystems. However, the expansion of commercial forestry in Sweden has led to significant conflicts over land use, with the Sámi people’s rights frequently being de-prioritised in favour of economic interests.
This thesis examines the challenges faced by the Indigenous Sámi people in Sweden regarding forestry management operations, with a particular focus on their right to consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). It addresses a critical gap in the implementation of Indigenous rights in the Global North, particularly in Sweden, a country known for its strong human rights record. Using Sveaskog, Sweden's largest state-owned forestry company, as a case study, the thesis explores the practical challenges of realising FPIC. The thesis explores the intersection of Indigenous rights, international environmental biodiversity, and corporate responsibility to respect human rights in the context of Swedish forestry practices. This research contributes to understanding how international human rights standards for Indigenous peoples are implemented, especially in the context of state-owned enterprises.
Findings indicate that the accepted international minimum norm is that Indigenous peoples' right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) should be understood as a sliding-scale framework. This means that the level of participation and consent required from Indigenous peoples varies depending on the potential impact of the proposed activity on their rights. While Sweden recognises the Indigenous peoples’ right to consultation and FPIC, its practical application within domestic legislation does not fully align with the international minimum norm. Sámi reindeer herders often face challenges in meaningful participation in decision-making processes affecting their rights. Sveaskog’s consultation practices, while somewhat aligned with international standards, fall short of best practices for implementing FPIC. The thesis concludes that effective implementation of Sámi rights requires more robust domestic legislation enforcing human rights due diligence in forestry management and adopting a sliding-scale approach to FPIC.}},
author = {{Mustafaeva, Dilshodakhon}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{An Examination of Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Consultation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent: A Case Study of Sveaskog and the Swedish Forestry Industry}},
year = {{2024}},
}