Latvia – Equal in Diversity

The anti-discrimination projects „Latvia – Equal in Diversity I” and „Latvia – Equal in Diversity II” are administered by the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and implemented in collaboration with several partner organisations, including the Latvian Centre for Human Rights.

The projects are financially supported by the “European Community Action Programme to Combat Discrimination (2001 – 2006)” and co-funded by the state budget. The main objectives of the Action Programme are to:

1. improve the understanding of issues related to discrimination;

2. develop the capacity to tackle discrimination effectively;

3. promote the values underlying the fight against discrimination.

 Latvia – Equal in Diversity I (LED I)

LED I consisted of six sub-projects.  Their main goals were to provide training, involve and inform the society groups subjected to discrimination and intolerance as well as the organisations working with and for these groups.

The Latvian Centre for Human Rights implemented a project “Awareness raising activities on the EU Racial Equality and Employment Framework Directives” in the framework of the LED I. The target audience of the project was judiciary throughout Latvia, embracing the entire national judicial system.

The objectives of the project were aimed to:

1. promote anti-discrimination and tolerance awareness in Latvian society;

2. raise awareness among Latvian judiciary on  the Racial Equality Directive 2000/43/EC and the Employment Framework Directive 2000/78/EC;

3. highlight EU anti-discrimination priorities;

4. discuss projects to combat racial discrimination and xenophobia against particular groups;

5. create sustainable co-operation with institutions working in the area;

6. educate judges to promote creation of case law available to the public at large.

Six regional seminars for judges and court employees were held July-August 2006 in a number of cities and towns: Valmiera, Rezekne, Ventspils, Liepaja, Jelgava and Daugavpils.  

Latvia – Equal in Diversity II (LED II)

The Latvian Centre for Human Rights implements a project “Measuring Discrimination in Latvia – Data Collection for New Strategies” in the framework of the LED II.

Project duration: 1 October 2006 – 30 September 2007

The objectives of the project are to continue awareness rising on anti-discrimination legislation and policies – both national and EU – while also working towards a deepening of the understanding of specific issues.

Planned activities of the project:

1. expert conference on the Racial Equality Directive 2000/43/EC and the Employment Framework Directive 2000/78/EC for representatives of NGOs, trade unions, employers’ associations, the national equality body, relevant ministries and other involved state institutions, legal practitioners;

2. six follow-up seminars for judges, legal practitioners and the representatives of the NGOs;

3. drafting background briefing paper on the issues concerning sensitive data collection and organisation of a discussion seminar for experts and direct stakeholders on that basis.

Publicēts: 2007-01-16