HEADLINES
Official visit of PACE Rapporteur of the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Adrian Severin, to Latvia From 20 to 21 March 2006, the PACE Rapporteur of the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Adrian Severin, visited Riga to prepare a report on national minority rights in Latvia. On 20 March, the Rapporteur met with representatives of non-governmental organisations and on 21 March, had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Aigars Kalvitis, and the Minister for Education and Science, Ina Druviete. The parties discussed issues related to national minority protection with particular attention to the integration process. Prime Minister Kalvitis informed the Rapporteur about accomplishments in law adoption and the establishment of institutions, as well as about possibilities for the representatives of ethnic minorities to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the government. He also commented on the positive influence of the European Union on the naturalisation process in Latvia since its accession to the EU. Mr Severin, in his response, positively evaluated the accomplishments of the government in the sphere of national minority integration and suggested the incorporation of these aims as important and common for various groups of society and recommended involvement of these minorities in the implementation of various projects in order to better unite society. In his meeting with the Minister for Education and Science, the Rapporteur wanted to find out more about the Latvian education system and national minorities. He was interested to know more about the schoolchildren's marks and assessments and also about the teaching system "40 against 60", which is practiced in minority schools, and according to which schoolchildren of the 10th grade acquire 60 percent of their subject materials in Latvian, and 40 percent - in their native language. On 21 March, Mr Severin met with the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ainars Latkovskis, one of his Counsellors, Dr. Ilmars Mezs, and the Deputy Head of the Secretariat for Ethnopolitical Issues – Director of the Department of Minority Affairs, Irina Vinnika. During the meeting the parties discussed possibilities for ethnic integration and participation of national minority representatives. Mr Severin was particularly interested in the possibilities of national minority representatives to establish dialogue between themselves and with the state, as well as in civic integration – and whether Latvia has any mechanisms in place for the involvement of minority representatives in the process of political decision-making. Mr Latkovskis informed the Rapporteur about the possibilities for NGO participation in political decision-making, stressing that in this respect they all have an equal opportunity, irrespective of nationality, to express their opinion in public discussions and to participate in expert working groups and consultative councils. The Minister also acquainted Mr Severin with the book Come and Participate! published last year in both Latvian and Russian languages, which describes the possibilities for different NGOs, including national minority organisations, to participate in the policy formation and decision-making process. Ms Vinnika then informed those present about the project concerning the programme developed by the Secretariat in cooperation with all the Latvian Roma associations and presented this as an example of how representatives of national minorities can actively engage in policy formation. Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (21.03.2006) BNS (16.03.2006) (21.03.2006)
British Ambassador to the OSCE acquainted with society integration issues in Latvia On 13 March 2006, the Head of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Kristine Vagnere, Deputy Head and Director of the Society Integration Department, Evita Kirilova, and the Director of the European Anti-Discrimination Policy Department, Deniss Hanovs, met with the British Ambassador to the OSCE, Colin Munro, in order to discuss society integration issues. During the meeting representatives of the Secretariat acquainted the Ambassador with the main directions and tasks of the integration policy by paying particular attention to the integration of the Russian speaking minority in Latvia. The Head of the Secretariat informed Mr Munro about integration priorities in Latvia for the strengthening of civic society; about government support for the plans to organise several undertakings with the aim to actualise discussion in society about issues which affect Latvians living abroad and their feeling of belonging to the ethnic homeland and, of their possible role in the processes taking place in Latvia. The main objective of the project Week of Nationals is to inform society in Latvia and in other countries where Latvians live, about each other, to lessen prejudice, and to promote mutual dialogue between them. The Ambassador positively evaluated the integration of national minorities in Latvia, and especially approved the work of the Secretariat in implementation of the National Programme for the Promotion of Tolerance. The Ambassador's visit concluded with an agreement to maintain exchange of information on integration issues, which, taking into account the 30 years of successful British experience in the promotion of tolerance and in ensuring of equal rights to the ethnic minorities will be of invaluable benefit for Latvia. Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (12.03.2006)
Foreign experts in Riga discuss situation of Islamic minorities in Europe On 24 March 2006, the Ambassador of Canada to Latvia, Claire Poulin, opened a seminar for foreign experts on the topic area:- Islamic Minorities in Europe: Wealth of the Society or Endangered Minority Groups? at the Riga Graduate School of Law. In her address Ms Poulin described intolerance and discrimination against other religions as the greatest challenge of this century. She pointed out that the global society in which we are living can not be imagined with just one opinion of life and explained that there is not only one religion, one culture or one truth in the world, but there is a diversity of realities. A response to discrimination and intolerance against other religions could be to show respect for them and for mutual communication. She said that racism and discrimination is the result of a lack of understanding. The Ambassador spoke of the positive experience of Canada, which tries to integrate all the different cultures and religions at the same time guaranteeing the right to preservation of the differences between these groups. Mandana Zarrehparvar, representing the Danish Institute for Human Rights, delivered a lecture: Denmark and Caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad: Freedom of Speech or Incitement of Hatred", and a lawyer from Canada, David Matas, who is the author of many books, including Bloody Words: Hate and Free Speech, spoke about freedom of speech and hatred in words. Doctoral student of the Sorbonne University and Montreal University, Xavier Lund, also shared his experience on the issues of secularism and religious symbols in France. The Latvian Centre for Human Rights plans to organise a cycle of four seminars Civic Society Against Intolerance with the aim of mobilising civic society for the fight against expressions of intolerance and to promote an awareness of Latvian NGOs and discussions about other sensitive issues in our society. BNS (24.03.2006)
Social Integration Minister discusses the Ukrainian diaspora in Latvia with the Ambassador of Ukraine On 9 March 2006, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ainars Latkovskis, met with the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Raul Chilachava. The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to Mr Latkovskis for the significant support to the Ukrainian community living in Latvia. During the meeting the parties discussed the situation in Latvia with regard to integration, compared the minorities policies in both Latvia and in Ukraine, as well as talked about the work of both countries in supporting and strengthening the communities of their own nationals living abroad, especially emphasizing the issue of Ukrainian diaspora in Latvia and Latvia's support to the Ukrainian associations. Minister Latkovskis noted with pleasure that at the moment there are 15 Ukrainian associations throughout all regions of Latvia which are united and actively participate in the events organised by the Social Integration Secretariat, as well as organising their own activities to preserve their identity and culture. Mr Latkovskis suggested that it should be possible to organise a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora during the forthcoming visit of the Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko in Latvia, during which he would be able to become acquainted with the activities of the Ukrainian associations for the strengthening of their identity and preservation of their cultural traditions. Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (09.03.2006)
SIF develops a programme of support for innovative ideas The Society Integration Foundation (SIF) has invited individuals with interesting ideas for the promotion of societal integration and a willingness to put these ideas into practice, to become involved in the programme of support for innovative ideas. The SIF will provide material and intellectual support for the preparation of projects. The aim of the programme is to stimulate the implementation of innovative ideas by individuals by helping them prepare project applications for tenders to be financed by other organisations. The foundation will help individuals implement good and original ideas in cases when lack of finance or other obstacles prevent or limit individual project preparation. The SIF supports projects related to societal integration and related to one of the following areas: social, regional integration, education and language, culture, repatriation and migration, as well as research and social communication. LETA (22.03.2006)
International Action Week Against Racism 2006 in Riga From 20 to 28 March 2006, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, in cooperation with Latvian NGOs and the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, organised the third annual International Action Week Against Racism. The series of events of the International Action Week Against Racism began with the opening of an exhibition entitled Eastern Cultures in Latvia, to which ambassadors, Deputies of the Parliament, representatives of NGOs and of the media were also invited and which was opened by the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ainars Latkovskis. In his address to the audience, the Minister expressed the hope that this exhibition would help Latvians to become better acquainted with other cultures within our larger society and to contain prejudices against other nations and their cultures. Visitors to the exhibition could view the traditional costumes and musical instruments of various Eastern nations, as well as a photo exhibition on Eastern national enclaves living in Latvia. This year the focus of the exhibition was on schoolchildren, in order to better provide information about the roots of racism, options for resistance to it and to promote discussion on the broad issues of racism and intolerance. On 21 March, an informative seminar on the topic What is Racism? was organised for schoolchildren from the secondary schools of Riga. The seminar was opened by the Social Integration Minister and the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Catherine Todd Bailey, and organised by the Social Integration Secretariat in cooperation with the association of European Minorities – Branch Office of the Baltic and Scandinavian Countries. During the seminar the schoolchildren participated in discussions and group work generating suggestions for strategies to fight racism. One of the conclusions that the schoolchildren arrived at during the discussions was: "Let us start by changing ourselves, and then the whole world will change!" They acknowledged the necessity for a dialogue within society. One more event of the week was a discussion organised by the Riga State Highschool No 1 in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Latvia on the topic Schoolchildren Against Hatred and Intolerance. The feature film Gentleman's Agreement (USA, 1947 devoted to problems connected with anti-Semitism) was also screened. After watching the film, the participants of the various Riga schools debate clubs discussed the reasons behind the issue of intolerance in Latvia and suggested how to inhibit actions which endanger the existence of diversity and which are aimed at the splitting of society and the humiliation of other nations and cultures. The network of debate clubs has now discussed the topic of intolerance several times. Many different events took place during the International Action Week Against Racism, from schoolchildren's discussions to the literary-musical presentation 1001 Night – Myths and Truths About the Arabian World. Informative materials were also distributed during the eventful week, these having been prepared in co-operation with the European Commission campaign For Diversity. Against Discrimination. The materials provide basic information on how to recognize cases of discrimination and where to turn if such cases are noticed. Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (16.03.2006) (20.03.2006)(21.03.2006) (27.03.2006) BNS (20.03.2006)
Attempt to eradicate intolerance on the internet The largest Latvian internet portals will attempt to eradicate the elements of intolerance in their publications and related readers' feedback commentaries. By the end of May the largest portals will most likely sign a Declaration of Good Will as part of the project Internet without Hatred. By signing the document these portals will undertake to do their best to restrict expressions of intolerance in the feedback commentaries and to develop a mechanism for the monitoring of these expressions. The project was launched in January and will continue until the end of the year uniting such portals as Delfi, Apollo, the on-line versions of the largest newspapers, and it is also supported by government institutions including the National Human Rights Office, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs, the British Embassy and the Soros Foundation – Latvia. It is hoped to reach agreement on a definition of what is and what is not acceptable in public broadcast space. It is also planned to develop a model for the monitoring of publications and commentaries on the internet, at the same time providing an opportunity for people who may be offended by such commentary to report their feelings. It is planned to establish a "hotline", the monitoring of which could be carried out by the organisations of the respective social groups, e.g., Jewish organisations could record and report anti-Semitic opinions and expressions, etc. In order to promote the formation of a tolerant environment on the internet, the portal Dialogi.lv, with support from the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, is planning to open an on-line library www.tolerance.lv, where users will be able to read "tolerance classics" such as the famous speeches of Martin Luther King and Pope John Paul II, as well as passages from scientific publications and recommendations of the European Union in the area of integration. BNS (24.03.2006) First Arabian Culture Centre in Baltic States opened in Riga The first Arabian Cultural Centre in the Baltic States opened its doors on 24 March as part of the International Action Week Against Racism 2006. One of the aims of the centre is to dispel stereotypes existing in society about the Arab world and to educate society about the various peoples, traditions and religions living together in the Arabian world. With the opening of the exhibition, visitors now have access to various courses, from language instruction and translation, to courses associated with Arabian culture. The centre also plans to organise an Arabian Culture Week in order to better acquaint people in the major Latvian cities with traditional Arabian cuisine, culture and traditions. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Current News (24.03.2006) For more information:
Newsletter "Societal Integration in Latvia: Towards Mutual Understanding and Cooperation" is a compilation of press releases and news reports drawn from the mass media and official sources. Not all of the views published reflect the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
