UN Representative Will Study Problems Of Ugra’s Indigenous People

07.10.2009 — News

UGRA.

The United Nations Council will consider the situation of indigenous people in Russia. To prepare the report the Special UN Rapporteur Professor Stephen James Anaya will visit Ugra, Krasnoyarsk Krai, and Khabarovsk Krai in October 2009.

On 7 October, during the meeting with the leaders of Ugra Prof. Anaya discussed the organisation of legislative, economic, and social provisions of the rights and interests of Khanty, Mansi, and Forest Nenets, the indigenous people of the region. There are 923 areas of traditional residence of indigenous people in Ugra. A regulatory document is being developed at the moment that would secure for some of these areas the status of wildlife reserve or sanctuary where mineral extraction is prohibited. 

Ugra is the leading oil producing region of Russia. In 40 years not a single serious conflict arose between oil companies and the indigenous people in the region. The regional government informed RusBusinessNews that this is helped by the up-to-date legislation which includes more than 60 laws on the territory, language, sanctuaries, traditional trades of indigenous people as well as agreements with oil producing companies.