Integration monitor
Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.
Oct. 24, 2008
- Leader of the Peoples Party Mareks Seglins: the Concord Centre could be granted three minister posts in the government
- Latvijas Avize reports about the Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committees meeting with representatives of NGOs regarding reorganisation of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
- Ex-Integration Minister Karina Petersone: the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration should remain
- Woman from Kenya granted status of asylum seeker in Latvia.
New leader of the Peoples Party Mareks Seglins has stated that the oppositional party Concord Centre proved its skills to work professionally and it could be granted three minister posts in the government. Member of the Concord Centre Boriss Cilevics in an interview with Chas stated that such statement shows that there are considerable disagreements among the coalitions parties, however, the Concord Centre does not evaluate it as invitation to the government. Mr. Cilevics also stated that the Concord Centre will not refuse its priorities such as protection of human rights and Russian speaking residents. Chas, NRA
Latvijas Avize reports about the Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committees meeting with representatives of NGOs regarding reorganisation of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS). Members of the Committee presented a draft plan for the Secretariats reorganisation stipulating establishment of the Society and Family Affairs Ministry which would include three units: unit of the optimised Family and Children Affairs Ministry; unit composed of several IUMSILSs departments; and administrative unit. In addition, it is planed to establish Agency on Society Integration Affairs whichs main task would be allocation of grants for ethnic minority NGOs. According to the article, NGOs invited to the meeting were only those who support the IUMSILS and object its closure. While, couple of NGOs, including the Latvian Centre for Human Rights who was not invited officially, proposed to hold evaluation of the IUMSILS work before reorganisation.
Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the ex-Integration Minister Karina Petersone on situation around the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration (IUMSILS). Mrs. Petersone believes that economy of state funds at the cost of closure of the IUMSILS would be too low. Mrs. Petersone believes that the IMUSILS should remain because it has established dialog with representatives of ethnic minorities and this dialog should not lost.
Diena reports that a woman from Kenya and her child were granted status of asylum seekers in Latvia.