UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 63rd Session
Annual panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
Statement by Denmark, together with Greenland, on behalf of NB8
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23.09.2026
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States: Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Denmark, together with Greenland.
We thank the panellists for their valuable contributions.
Indigenous Peoples have been custodians of lands, territories, natural resources, and cultural heritage for generations. Their knowledge, practices, and relationship with the environment make an invaluable contribution to preserving our shared cultural and natural heritage. The rights of Indigenous Peoples must be fully respected in decisions concerning their lands, territories, and cultural heritage, as set out in UNDRIP, which provides a clear framework in this regard.
The protection of World Heritage must go hand in hand with the protection of human rights. Conservation measures must not lead to restrictions on traditional practices or denial of access to Indigenous Peoples’ cultural and sacred sites. This includes respecting Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems and cultural values and to consult and cooperate in good faith in order to obtain free, prior and informed consent.
Distinguished panellists, how can States best ensure that Indigenous Peoples are included in decision-making processes on World Heritage sites affecting their heritage?
Thank you.