The Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region and the Inuit Circumpolar Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding affirming a closer cooperation between the two parties.
Arctic Parliamentarians and Inuit Circumpolar Council are actively involved in Arctic policy making. With the MoU, both parties intend to collaborate in promoting Inuit rights, as well as the full and effective involvement of Inuit in decision-making on all matters relating to the Arctic.
Aaja Chemnitz, Chair of the Arctic Parliamentarians says:
”The promotion and recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples have been important for our committee throughout time. Inuit Circumpolar Council is an important partner in ensuring Inuit representation in international negotiations and Arctic policy making. With our closer coordination and cooperation, it is my hope that we will mutually enrich each other in our shared efforts to strengthen Arctic governance and cooperation”.
Sara Olsvig, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council says:
“Collaboration with parliamentarians from Arctic nations is of great importance to Inuit Circumpolar Council. With this Memorandum of Understanding we aim at ensuring further communication and engagement with parliamentarians from across the Arctic. The full and effective participation of Inuit in Arctic policy making is fundamental. ICC issues many policy recommendations through our initiatives and general assemblies, and we look forward to expanding our engagement with parliamentarians to further promote our shared goals”.
The parties affirm the Inuit Circumpolar Council’s unique role as a co-founder and a Permanent Participant of the Arctic Council, while the Arctic Parliamentarians participated and supported the establishment of the Arctic Council and continue to be an observer.
Inuit Circumpolar Council
Founded in 1977, the Inuit Circumpolar Council is a major international Indigenous Peoples’ Organization (IPO) representing approximately 180,000 Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia), and holds Consultative Status II at the United Nations. The principal goals of Inuit Circumpolar Council are, therefore, to strengthen unity among Inuit of the circumpolar region; promote Inuit rights and interests on an international level; develop and encourage long-term policies that safeguard the Arctic environment; and seek full and active partnership in the political, economic, and social development of circumpolar regions.
Arctic Parliamentarians
Arctic Parliamentarians is an Observer to the Arctic Council and has had Observer status since 1998. Arctic Parliamentarians consists of appointed parliamentarians from the national parliaments of the Arctic states. The committee aims to promote sustainable economic development in the Arctic, prevent climate change in the Arctic and promote the rights of the Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic. Furthermore, Arctic Parliamentarians aims to strengthen cooporation across the Arctic states within these tenets, as the issues, opportunities and solutions require collective action.