The duty to consult and the Human Rights of the Sami – the hidden work of implementation across ministries

The duty to consult and other human rights obligations the state has towards the Sami people, applies across all sectors and levels of government. The lecture will highlight how the obligation under international law is interpreted and made into practice in the ministries, through procedures, legislation, and guidance, and on how the implementation work is carried out across the ministries, in the Norwegian government context. Examples will be drawn from the everyday life of civil servant in the ministries.

Bjørn Olav Megard, Director General, Department of Indigenous and National Minority Affairs, The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

Mr. Megard is the Director General and Head of the Department of Indigenous and National Minority Affairs since 2012 and has worked in the department since 1999. The department is tasked with implementing and following up the Norwegian Government's objectives in the policy towards the Sami population and the national minorities. Mr. Megard holds a master’s degree in social anthropology and a Bachelor of Science degree in climate sciences and math, both from the University of Oslo, as well as a master’s degree of public administration from Harvard University.