Latvian Centre for Human Rights provides free-of-charge legal aid to asylum seekers in Latvia.
What is a hate crime? Who is the target of a hate crime? What is hate speech? What makes hate speech and hate crimes dangerous? Where to report?
The research objectives focus on the analysis of hate discourses and practices in terms of definitions, European and national standards, targets, actors, anti-discrimination policies, and good practices. It studies the emergence and manifestations of Euroscepticism in countries with predominantly Eurooptimistic and Eurorealistic sentiments. The study also examines civic activism as a key factor in countering hate discourses and practices and in promoting the European values of respect for difference, liberty, equality, and human dignity.
Hate speech in Latvia is present in public spaces and online. Due to a growing usage of the internet and social networks it has become more visible. Hate speech targets different ethnic, religious, and social groups and often correlates with political discourse and actual developments in social and political areas. Latvia is one of the youngest EU member states and the level of Euroscepticism is quite low, however not all European values and policies are welcomed by both mainstream and smaller political parties who oppose certain EU fundamental rights and principles. This report analyses the hate speech phenomenon in Latvia and looks at whether Euroscepticism and hate speech are interrelated issues.