Consultative Committee of Finno-Ugric Peoples is the coordinating body of the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples which acts in accordance with the norms of international law and the principles of the United Nations Organization. The first session of the Consultative Committee was held in Syktyvkar in 1992.
Consultative Committee protects the rights and interests of Finno-Ugric peoples as stated in the “Declaration of Fundamental Principles, Aims and Objectives of Cooperation of Finno-Ugric Peoples”. Committee operates on the principle that all representatives of Finno-Ugric peoples are equal, that discussions are held democratically and that decisions are adopted based on a consensus. Voting is practised in the case of administrative questions.
Each Finno-Ugric people is represented in the Consultative Committee by up to two representatives who are typically appointed by representative bodies or other organizations representing the interests of a respective people. Organisations that have appointed its representatives can substitute them at any time. Estonians are represented in the Consultative Committee by NPO Fenno-Ugria as the umbrella organisation of Estonian organisations for developing contacts with all Finno-Ugric peoples.
Each people has equal speaking rights and one vote in elections (Tver Karelians and Karelians from the Republic of Karelia have one vote which they must exercise based on consensus).
Work of the Committee is organized by the Chair and three coordinators who jointly must represent participants from Russia, Hungary, Finland and Estonia. According to work methods, the Consultative Committee must convene at least once a year, but in practise it has been convening twice a year.
Consultative Committee sessions are usually preceded by the meeting of the Chair and coordinators who prepare the draft agenda and discuss other administrative matters. Since 1995, the Consultative Committee has participated in the preparation of the draft of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Vienna and Geneva.
The headquarters of the Consultative Committee is located in Helsinki, in the offices of Finland-Russia Friendship Society.
The headquarters of the Consultative Committee is located in Helsinki, in the offices of Finland-Russia Friendship Society.
Kanavaranta 7 F, 00160 Helsinki (+358) 9 693831 svs@venajaseura.com Website of the Conslutatitve Committee