Yesterday, Estonian Ambassador to the UN Sven Jürgenson opened the exhibition “Finno Ugric and Samoyed People”, compiled by the Estonian National Museum, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Ambassador Jürgenson emphasised the importance of preserving cultural diversity at the opening of the exhibition on Finno Ugric and Samoyed peoples. “Indigenous peoples and their unique culture can survive only if they have a strong support from the society. Preserving diverse heritage is our joint responsibility,” the Ambassador explained the aim of the exhibition. “That is why Estonia supports cultural and educational projects of the Finno Ugric peoples,” he noted and added that the next World Congress of the Finno Ugric Peoples will be held in Estonia in 2020.
The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour and the Chief of the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Chandra Roy-Henriksen thanked Estonia for on-going contribution to the UN Fund and Forum for Indigenous Peoples. The Assistant Secretary-General emphasised that we have to continue with increasing the participation of indigenous peoples at the UN meetings. He noted that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples carries great weight on local and international level because it reflects the cooperation between states and indigenous peoples. The Estonian exhibition is a good example of such true partnership.
The exhibition, organised by the Permanent Mission of Estonia to the United Nations, is dedicated to the 16th Session of the the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues from 24 April to 5 May, and the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The exhibition will be on display until 25 May.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/sets/72157682736340786/with/34116409456/
Additional information:
Sten Juur
Communication Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(+372) 637 7627
(+372) 5824 6622
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www.vm.ee