HEADLINES
Research on aspects of societal integration presented On 3 July 2006, research results on the subject Current Issues in Societal Integration were presented at the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Ministry for Social Integration. The aim of the research was to obtain information on those areas which were still not being looked at in the context of societal integration in Latvia, as well as to process the existing information, thus clarifying the attitudes and values of residents regarding this issue. The audience was addressed by the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, and by Ieva Strode, the Director of Social and Political Research of the Marketing and Public Opinion Research Centre (SKDS). The task of the research is to obtain data reflecting the attitudes of Latvia's residents towards particular issues related to societal integration, as well as to obtain statistical information, and to evaluate such areas as political participation (the number of persons who have acquired citizenship and become actively involved in politics); social integration (the number of persons who are victims of social rejection and the characterization of their problems); the influence of migration on societal integration (the number of repatriates, immigrants and emigrants; the attitudes of society towards these groups); tolerance and the availability of information. During the research, 1072 residents (in the age range from 15 to 75 years) were questioned, and the available statistical data and previous research data were summarized. The information obtained will be used as core material for the development of the political guidelines Societal Integration in Latvia 2006-2010. On 4 July, another research project was presented by Providus, the Centre for Public Policy: Diversity Enters Latvian Schools: The Integration of National Minority Children into Latvian Secondary Schools. The research concluded that the situation of national minority schoolchildren in Latvian secondary schools can generally be characterised as good, because the average mark and psychological feeling of well-being on the whole is compatible with the level of Latvian schoolchildren. Another conclusion was that the sooner the schoolchildren start their studies in Latvian language, the fewer difficulties they face later on. After the presentation of the project, a short discussion on the research took place. Saeima deputy Dzintars Abikis actively involved himself in the discussion and suggested the carrying out of similar but separate research in Daugavpils. This, he suggested, would help clarify how national minority schoolchildren feel in a Latvian school in which Latvians are the minority. The research evaluated the capability of Latvian schools to ensure that their pupils, irrespective of ethnic origin and native language, have equal possibilities for personal development and education. It evaluated teacher-readiness to work with ethnically and linguistically mixed classes, as well as teacher and student attitude towards the entry of national minority schoolchildren into the Latvian school environment. This research is helped identify new opportunities for integration "from below". The research also touches upon such issues as academic indicators and the subjective feelings of national minority schoolchildren in Latvian schools. The research was carried out in two stages. Interviews and focus groups were organised in 3 Latvian schools in the spring of 2005, with 391 teachers and 882 schoolchildren being interviewed between January and March 2005. The research was supported by the Society Integration Foundation and the European Commission (Phare). LETA (30.06.2006) LETA (04.07.2006) BNS (04.07.2006)
Association of local governments supports increase in state budget financing for societal integration programmes On 26 July 2006, the annual meeting of the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG) and the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration took place. During the discussions both parties agreed that it is necessary to significantly increase annual state budget financing for the societal integration programmes. During the meeting, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, informed her colleagues that the Secretariat has worked out a methodology to help local governments develop their societal integration programmes. The minister invited local governments to use the assistance of the regional resource centres for NGOs in the development and implementation of programmes and projects. These centres help NGOs to design their projects, and also provide gratuitous assistance in legal and accounting matters. Ms Petersone also noted that the Society Integration Foundation administers the state budget programme to the amount of LVL 200,000, from which NGOs can ask directly for financing to secure their contribution when implementing projects financed by various EU funds. Twice a year the Secretariat organises tenders for financial support to rural NGOs, to NGOs operating in the social sphere, and to national minority organisations. It also allocates funding to Latvians living abroad. The Deputy Head of the Secretariat for Ethno-political Issues and the Director of the Department of Minority Affairs, Irina Vinnika, informed the meeting that 110 national minority organisations have been established in Riga and 138 in the regions. LETA (26.07.2006)
Discussion on the role of local government in societal integration On 26 July 2006, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, the Deputy Head of the Social Integration Secretariat for Ethno-political Issues, the Director of the Department of Minority Affairs, Irina Vinnika, and other representatives of the Secretariat met with the Secretary-General of the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (LALRG), Ligita Zacesta, and with other representatives of LALRG and local governments. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the role of local governments in the promotion of societal integration, mutual co-operation and co-operation between local governments and NGOs, as well as the support of local governments to national minorities and to Latvians living abroad. The minister informed her audience about the contribution of the Secretariat in the strengthening of civic society and indicated that the creation of a favourable environment for NGOs plays a vital role, especially in regional areas. Regional NGO Resource Centres have been opened in 8 places in Latvia and were created under the programme Strengthening of Civic Society 2005-2009, and on the whole, the Secretariat provides 4 grant programmes – support to rural NGOs, social sphere, national minority and Latvian diaspora NGOs. The aim of the society integration policy is to develop each individual's potential in ensuring equal possibilities to participate and to be able to express oneself to all residents of Latvia. Ms Vinnika acquainted the participants of the discussion with the situation of national minorities in Latvia. She also discussed the possibilities under which national minority NGOs could receive budget subsidies and expressed her gratitude to the LALRG and all local governments involved for the creation of cultural centres in their territories, which is of great assistance in preserving the cultural environment of national minorities. Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (26.07.2006) Guidelines for societal integration in Latvia developed The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has commenced its work at developing the guidelines Societal Integration in Latvia. These guidelines will be the policy-planning document for the period 2006-2010, and will include the main principles of the government's policy, its development objectives and its priorities in the area of societal integration. The document will co-ordinate the work of state administration institutions developing inter-sectoral policy, which is related to all state and municipal policy spheres for the promotion of societal integration in Latvia, and involving NGOs in decision-making and policy development processes. At the moment the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister is summarising the conclusions of experts from a working group on the guidelines project, and is also evaluating its response to the problems being put forward by the research on Current Issues of Societal Integration which was carried out earlier this year. The working group consists of 27 experts in various societal integration spheres of activity. In parallel to the working group, public discussions about the guidelines project were organised in different Latvian centres at the end of 2005. The aim of the public discussions was to find out which problems people consider to be the most important in the area of societal integration and what could be some possible solutions. LETA (08.07.2006)
Exhibition on minorities in Latvia opened at European Parliament From 11 to 14 July 2006, the travelling exhibition National Minorities in Latvia – Then and Now was on view at the European Parliament's building in Brussels. The exhibition reflected the ethnic situation in Latvia's territory over the centuries and showed the development of the traditional minorities of Latvia. It highlighted the minority policy of pre-war Latvia and showed the ethnic composition of Latvian citizenry before the Soviet occupation in 1940. The exhibition revealed the role of the traditional minorities in the political, social, and cultural spheres in the period between the two world wars. It also revealed the changes that have occurred as a result of Latvia's occupation by two major powers as well as the current situation in the area of naturalization of non-citizens and societal integration. The exhibition was prepared at the initiative of Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks, by the former head of the office of International Organization for Migration in Latvia, Ilmars Mezs, and by Juris Ciganovs, the Deputy Director in charge of research at the Latvian War Museum. The project was also supported by the Head of the Naturalization Board, Eizenija Aldermane. To date, the exhibition has been displayed in Latvia, Belarus, the United Kingdom, and Austria. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Current News (10.07.2006)
Roma Union of Latvia founded At the end of June 2006, the Roma association Gloss founded the Roma Union of Latvia. The aim of this Union is to radically change the living conditions of the Roma in Latvia. The union plans to unite Roma from all regions of Latvia. The Roma association Gloss together with many well-known people in Latvia, has developed a strategy for improving the conditions of Roma in Latvia. It describes projects which will be developed over the next ten years, and these projects will be related to the social, educational and economical aspects of Roma life, as well as to aspects concerning employment, health and culture. The strategy also foresees the creation of work places for Roma by employing them in agriculture and construction, by launching small and medium entrepreneurships and by developing production. LETA (07.07.2006) LETA (30.07.2006)
Roma Day organised in Latvia On 21 July 2006, events devoted to "Roma Day" were organised in several cities throughout Latvia. The major Roma Day events took place in Madona – with a seminar Roma in Latvia and the concluding public discussion of the National Programme. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, also participated in these events. After concluding the discussions, the programme was submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for adoption. The Minister expressed her hope that the national programme for Roma will be implemented as effectively as was the target programme Livs in Latvia which was adopted 10 years ago. She stressed that this is particularly important as the Roma are the only minority in Latvia who do not have a permanent state and that there are no other possibilities to provide support on an inter-governmental level. The national programme will be implemented taking into account what has been learned from the experiences of the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia in Roma education, where ABC-type and other books in the Roma language are available to Roma children in pre-school establishments and where the children are taught by teachers' assistants of Roma nationality. On 21 July, from the very early morning near the Madona by-pass, the Roma Days "Wagon" received guests and members of the Roma ensemble Brivais vejs (the free wind) welcomed them with traditional Roma music, dances and songs. Latvijas Avīze (22.07.2006)
Collected articles published: Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Latvia – the Past, Current Situation, Solutions Collected articles under the title Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Latvia – the Past, the Current Situation, Solutions were published with the support of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration. The collection was published under the National Programme for the Promotion of Tolerance 2005-2009 and comprises papers which were delivered in the conference Facing Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism organised by the Secretariat in co-operation with the Latvian Bible Society in April 2006. Opinions and conclusions in this collection have been expressed by such well-known Latvian experts as Mag. Theol. Valts Apinis, Professor Ilga Apine, the poet Uldis Berzins, Associated Professor Deniss Hanovs and other specialists. The readings cover a range of issues on the topic of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism – Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in today's socio-political context; tolerance in Latvian society; Islamophobia in the context of the European union; Islam and tolerance; and tolerance in Judaism. The project under which this collection was published is part of the first such project developed in Latvia – LED I (Latvia – Equal in Diversity), and is supported by the European Community Action Programme to combat discrimination 2001-2006 the aim of which is to support the effective implementation of EU anti-discrimination legislation. Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (12.07.2006)
Events devoted to the Liv minority organised in Latvia From 19 to 23 July 2006, the third Liv (Livonian) language speakers' camp took place at Sikrags. It was organized by the Livonian Culture Centre (Livo kultur sidam) with financial support from the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and the University of Tartu. Fifteen Liv language speakers from both Latvia and Estonia participated at the camp this year. Liv language speakers attended classes for the improving of their knowledge and practical application of the Liv language with the aim being to help keep this almost extinct language alive. From 24 to 29 July 2006, the first Liv multi-generation camp Liv 3x3 2006 was organised in Mazirbe. Grandparents, parents and children of Liv origin from Riga, Ventspils, Dundaga, Kolka, as well as from Finland gathered at the camp in order to collectively pass on the Liv national wisdom to the new generation. Participants age range was quite remarkable – from 3 to 76 years. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Karina Petersone, also participated in the opening event of the camp. The camp was organised with the aim of strengthening ties between the generations and for the togetherness of families, to raise and to maintain the ethnic self-consciousness of Livs in the different generations, as well as to promote and support the handover of Liv culture, language, cultural and historical heritage to the next generation. Knowledge and experience was shared by Valda Marija Suvcane, an expert of the Liv language, its culture and history - also the author of several books; by experts and cultivators of Liv traditions and experts of Liv handicraft - Zoja and Edgars Silis; by researchers of Liv history in Vidzeme, teacher and Director of the Pale Civil Parish Museum of Local Studies - Rasma Norina; by collator of Liv life histories and scientist - Mara Zirnite; by philologist and professor Janina Kursite; by the poet Uldis Krasts, as well as by archaeologist and researcher of Liv proto-history - Guntis Zemitis. Liv music was played during the camp, and the participants sang Liv songs as there were also singers from the Liv groups Livlist and Randalist among them. During the camp the participants also compared their skills in the preparing of traditional dishes and revealed their secrets – with smoked plaice and the famous baked grand pies of Kurzeme. The camp was organised by and received financial support from the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in co-operation with the Liv (Livonian) Union and the State Culture Capital Foundation. Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (20.07.2006) Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (21.07.2006)
Latvian citizenship granted to 1347 persons On 5 July 2006, the Government granted Latvian citizenship through naturalization to 1347 persons of whom 70 were minors. The majority of applicants were Russian, Ukrainian, Belarussian and of other nationalities. All the persons included in the list complied with all the requirements of The Law on Citizenship, and information about these persons was received from The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs and other state services. To date, a total of 110,645 persons have been granted Latvian citizenship through naturalization. Latvijas Avīze (05.07.2006) For more information: Monthly newsletter "The News of the Naturalisation Board"
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. |
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