CCPR/C/124/D/2668/2015 indigenous peoples to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. 24 Article 1 of the Covenant and the corresponding obligations concerning its implementation are interrelated with other provisions of the Covenant and rules of international law.25 6.9 The Committee notes that, according to the State party, the author failed to establish in what way she had been directly affected by the Supreme Administrative Court rulings. It also notes the author’s request that the Committee take into account the individual and collective dimensions of the case. In this regard, the Committee recalls its general comment No. 23 (para. 9), in which it recognizes that the protection of the rights under article 27 of the Covenant is directed to ensure the survival and continued development of the cultural, religious and social identity of the minorities concerned, thus enriching the fabric of society as a whole. Accordingly, the Committee observed that those rights must be protected as such and should not be confused with other personal rights conferred on one and all under the Covenant. Moreover, although the rights protected under article 27 are individual rights, they depend in turn on the ability of the group to maintain its culture, language or religion. 26 The Committee further recalls that the preamble of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes that indigenous peoples possess collective rights which are indispensable for their existence, well-being and integral development as peoples. In view thereof, the Committee considers that in the context of indigenous peoples’ rights, articles 25 and 27 of the Covenant have a collective dimension and some of those rights can only be enjoyed in community with others. The rights to political participation of an indigenous community in the context of internal self-determination under article 27, read in the light of article 1, of the Covenant, and in pursuance of the preservation of the rights of members of the community to enjoy their own culture or to use their own language in community with the other members of their group, are not enjoyed merely individually. Consequently, when considering the individual harm in the context of this communication, the Committee must take into account the collective dimension of such harm. With respect to dilution of the vote of an indigenous community in the context of internal selfdetermination, harm directly imposed upon the collective may injure each and every individual member of the community. The author is a member of an indigenous community and all of her claims are related to her rights as such. 6.10 The Committee notes the author’s claim that, given the mandate of the Sami Parliament, the effective functioning of the Parliament and its capacity to adequately represent the views of the Sami are essential for the implementation by the State party of articles 25 and 27 of the Covenant, and that the Sami Parliament is an important instrument for the Sami, individually and collectively, to enjoy and exercise the rights protected under those articles. The Committee notes that the powers and duties of the Sami Parliament include looking after the Sami language and culture, taking care of matters relating to the status of the Sami as an indigenous people, acting as a representative of the Sami people nationally and internationally in matters pertaining to its tasks, and being consulted by all authorities in a long list of matters that concern the Sami as an indigenous people or developments within the Sami homeland. The Committee accordingly considers that the Sami Parliament constitutes the institution by which the State party ensures the effective participation of the members of the Sami people as an indigenous community in the decisions that affect them. Consequently, the State party’s fulfilment of the obligations contained in article 27 of the Covenant depend on the effective role that the Sami Parliament may play in decisions that affect the rights of members of the Sami community to enjoy their own culture or to use their own language in community with the other members of their group. The electoral process for the Sami Parliament accordingly must ensure the effective participation of those concerned in the internal self-determination process, which is necessary for the continued viability and welfare of the indigenous community as a whole. Pursuant to article 25 of the Covenant, the Committee also considers that restrictions affecting the right of members of the Sami indigenous 24 25 26 GE.19-04714 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, art. 3; see also art. 4. See further general comment No. 12 (1984) on the right to self-determination, para. 2. General comment No. 12, para. 2. General comment No. 23, para. 6. 11