Muddusjärvi Reindeer Herders’ Cooperative v Finland

On June 24, 2025, 33 members of the Muddusjärvi Reindeer Herders’ Cooperative (MPLK), an indigenous Sámi community in northern Finland, filed a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC). The complaint alleges that the Finnish Government has violated Articles 27 (the right to enjoy one’s culture), 17 (the right to privacy and family life), 26 (the right to non-discrimination), and 1 (the right to self-determination) of the ICCPR. Moreover, the Sámi argued that the Finnish state forestry agency severely damaged ecosystems that reindeer, which are integral in their culture, relied on for food. The complaint further challenged the Finnish government for not compensating the MPLK for the loss of this cultural resource. This complaint draws on the 2022 UNHRC case Billy et al. v. Australia, which established a State’s duty to adopt positive measures against climate change for the protection of indigenous cultures. The Finnish Government has until October 15, 2025, to respond.