THE ROLE OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIGENOUS SMALL-NUMBERED PEOPLES OF THE NORTH (BASED ON THE MATERIALS OF AN EXPERT SURVEY IN THE KHANTY-MANSI AUTONOMOUS OKRUG – YUGRA)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the state of institutional support for the rights of the indigenous peoples of the North. The industrial development of Siberian territories creates a threat of destruction of traditional forms of economic management. This makes this problem actual. The empirical material is the results of an expert survey conducted on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra. It is concluded that a regula- tory and legal framework has been created in the region to ensure the interests of indigenous peoples. However, it only creates an opportunity to protect their interests. This opportunity can be fully realized through the activities of political institutions. Today, public organizations of the indigenous peoples themselves are effectively working. They enjoy the trust of the indigenous population and protect not only the rights of Aboriginal people to traditional forms of farming, but also their socio-economic interests in general. However, the capabilities of these organizations are rather limited. For example, small indigenous peoples, due to their small number, do not have the opportunity to conduct “their” deputies to representative bodies of power. At the same time, the role of other actors – political organizations, mass media, ombudsmen – is insignificant. Expanding the range of political institutions involved in protecting the rights of the indigenous peoples of the North is the main condition for the successful solution of this task.