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.
May 8, 2014
- Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the speech therapist about possible effects of bilingual education
- Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee discussed the proposal to ban Russia's TV channels
Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the speech therapist working in one of Latvian schools and author of a doctoral thesis “Indications and Contraindications for Bilingual Education of Children” based on own experience. The speech therapist believes that bilingual education for children with some speech defects or mental retardation can hinder their development and abilities, because a child who has problems with native language has even more problems studying in foreign language. Especially it could be harmful to kids who study only in foreign language.
Yesterday, the Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee discussed the proposal to ban Russia's TV channels for distribution via cable operators in Latvia. Chairperson of the Committee Inara Murniece (nationalists’ union) stated that the proposal is a measure to oppose propaganda, while a representative of Ukrainian community supported the proposal, stating that "we are losing information war". Opposition MP Boriss Cilevics (Concord Centre) drew attention to the fact that the Senior Consultant of the Committee Rita Eva Naseniece who also acted as an expert at the meeting of the Committee regarding the proposal is the same person who signed the proposal. Mr. Cilevics referred to the Constitution of Latvia, which prohibits censorship, emphasised that people have the right themselves to seek and receive information and likened the proposal to the practices in North Korea and Turkmenistan. The Committee did not arrive to a definite conclusion regarding the proposal, but endorsed the idea of establishment of a single state-funded Russian-language TV channel for Baltic States. Vesti Segodnya