The 17th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has opened in Geneva.

One of the key discussions of the first day was devoted to an ongoing study on the laws, policies and judicial decisions through which States achieve the goals of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The study of the Expert Mechanism is devoted to the analysis of constitutions, laws, norms, policies, judicial decisions and other mechanisms for States to take measures to achieve the goals of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The study also provides an overview of examples of the practice of consultation and cooperation between States and indigenous peoples on the issue of legislative reforms, policies, programs and support measures. An important issue is the role and potential of indigenous institutions in the development of legislation. The final part contains recommendations addressed to States and indigenous peoples. 

Igor Barinov, the head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs, spoke at the debate, confirming the commitment of the Russian Federation to contributing to the achievement of the goals of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition of these rights at the constitutional level.

The head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs also recognized that ensuring progress requires effective cooperation with indigenous peoples. In this regard, Russia agrees with the conclusions of the Expert Mechanism study, which say that in addition to the adoption of laws, broader changes are required. In addition, Igor Barinov noted the contribution of the indigenous peoples of Russia to the UN study:
– At the same time, in the collective material of the Russian indigenous communities in support of the study of the expert mechanism, problems of the effectiveness of the application of legislation are noted, as well as the predominance of a point-based approach over a comprehensive one in its improvement. In this regard, using the example of recent positive decisions of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of the Russian Federation on access of indigenous peoples to biological resources, we note the special importance of judicial control over the application of laws.

Antonina Gorbunova, a member of the Expert Mechanism, expressed hope that the practice of collective discussions of the Expert Mechanism's research in the regions will be consolidated as a permanent practice.

The speech of Andrei Metelitsa, Chairman of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, deserves special attention.
He firmly and clearly expressed his position on the inadmissibility of unilateral restrictions that are imposed at the international level in relation to Russian companies.