Permanent Forum of the Indigenous Peoples: Discussion on the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum
Statement delivered by H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN
24 April 2026, New York
Chair, colleagues, distinguished representatives of Indigenous Peoples,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement of the European Union.
Safeguarding and advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples has long been a part of Estonia’s human rights policy. We reiterate our full support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and remain committed to ensuring the full realisation of the rights enshrined in the Declaration.
We acknowledge the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities and reaffirm our resolve to ensure that Indigenous People’s voices, knowledge, and perspectives are fully integrated into decision making that impact them.
Chair,
For Estonia, relations with the Finno-Ugric peoples have always held deep significance. Allow me to highlight the political realities faced today by the Finno-Ugric and other Indigenous communities in Russia.
In 2024, 55 Indigenous organisations in Russia were designated as extremist, and 172 organisations have been labelled as terrorist. These actions raise serious concerns about the compliance with international law.
Statistics on languages confirm widespread trend of russification and assimilation across Russia, with Indigenous communities increasingly losing their distinct identity and language. This is particularly evident as their languages are displaced from nearly all spheres of public life.
The impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on Indigenous Peoples is particularly worrying. Conscription is disproportionally affecting Russian Indigenous regions. Since the start of the war, a significant number of Indigenous People have been forcefully conscripted into the Russian Armed Forces to fight against Ukraine. Russia is waging war not only against Ukraine, but also against its own Indigenous communities.
Chair,
While recognising that many Indigenous communities face significant challenges in accessing reliable internet connectivity, I draw attention to Artificial Intelligence.
AI brings risks of information misuse and bias, but also offers opportunities to preserve languages and cultures, inter alia through open models. Indigenous knowledge systems do not fit the logics and algorithms that dominate AI architectures. However, ensuring meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, AI can serve as a powerful tool for cultural revitalization, including by supporting the preservation of Indigenous languages. As a co-facilitator of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, Estonia reiterates that AI governance must be human-centric, rights-based and innovation-friendly and globally inclusive.
Chair,
I reaffirm Estonia’s support for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the work of the Permanent Forum.
I thank you.
