CRC/C/97/D/172/2022* United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr.: General 16 January 2025 Original: English Committee on the Rights of the Child Views adopted by the Committee under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, concerning communication No. 172/2022**, ***, ****, ***** Communication submitted by: M.E.V., S.E.V. and B.I.V. (represented by counsel, Martin Scheinin) Alleged victims: The authors State party: Finland Date of communication: 12 January 2022 (initial submission) Date of adoption of Views: 13 September 2024 Subject matter: Granting of a mineral exploration permit in respect of an area on traditional territory of the Sami people without an impact assessment or free, prior and informed consent Procedural issues: Victim status; exhaustion of domestic remedies; substantiation of claims; fourth instance Substantive issues: Non-discrimination; right to identity; right to health; right to an adequate standard of living; right to culture Articles of the Convention: 2 (1), 8, 24, 27 and 30 Article of the Optional Protocol: 7 (e) and (f) 1.1 The authors of the communication are M.E.V., S.E.V. and B.I.V., nationals of Finland born on 3 March 2005, 3 January 2007 and 19 November 2008, respectively. They are three sisters belonging to the Sami people. Specifically, they are members of Kova-Labba siida, a community of reindeer herders. The authors submit that their rights under articles 8, 27 and 30, all interpreted in the light of article 24 and all read alone and in conjunction with article 2 (1), of the Convention have been violated by the State party in permitting a mineral * Reissued for technical reasons on 30 January 2025. ** Adopted by the Committee at its ninety-seventh session (26 August–13 September 2024). *** The following members of the Committee participated in the examination of the communication: Suzanne Aho, Aïssatou Alassane Sidikou, Thuwayba Al Barwani, Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, Mary Beloff, Rinchen Chophel, Rosaria Correa, Bragi Gudbrandsson, Philip Jaffé, Sopio Kiladze, Otani Mikiko, Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna, Ann Skelton, Velina Todorova, Benoit Van Keirsbilck and Ratou Zara. **** Individual opinions by Committee members Rosaria Correa (concurring) and Ann Skelton (partially concurring) are annexed to the present Views. ***** The annexes are being circulated in the languages of submission only. GE.24-18504 (E)