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.

• Human rights experts discuss results of the public dispute on draft Programme on Tolerance Promotion
• Russian experts carry out monitoring on situation of the Russian-speakers in all republics of the former USSR
• Chairman of the NGO Baltijas Forums Janis Urbanovics on society integration in Latvia
• About the draft Anti-Discrimination Law
• Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet writes about society integration in Latvia
• Vesti Segodnya features an article about the National Programme for Latvian Language Training

Public policy portal

Public policy portal www.politika.lvpublishes discussion among the human rights experts about results of the public dispute on draft Programme of Tolerance Promotion. While the Special Task Minister for Society Integration Nils Muiznieks regards ethnic minorities as the main groups, which suffer from prejudices and stereotypes in the society, researcher of the Public Policy Centre PROVIDUS Marija Golubeva, referring to the public opinion poll made by SKDS, states that intolerance is very frequently expressed also against sexual minorities. Marija Golubeva and Inga Reine, Latvian representative to the international human rights organizations, believe that values of tolerance must be introduced into the basic standards of educational programmes.

Experts from Russian Federation have carried out monitoring on situation of the Russian-speakers in all former USSR republics. One of the experts, professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova, recognizes that economic and social situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia are much better than, for example, in Central Asia, however, she points to problems in the area of human rights. Poloskova names two issues as the most acute problems of Russian-speakers in Latvia: the education reform, which, according to her, has been adopted in a rush and implemented extremely unprofessionally, and a high percentage of non-citizens.

Experts from Russian Federation have carried out monitoring on situation of the Russian-speakers in all former USSR republics. One of the experts, professor of Russia Foreign Affairs Ministrys Diplomatic Academy Tatyana Poloskova, recognizes that economic and social situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia are much better than, for example, in Central Asia, however, she points to problems in the area of human rights. Poloskova names two issues as the most acute problems of Russian-speakers in Latvia: the education reform, which, according to her, has been adopted in a rush and implemented extremely unprofessionally, and a high percentage of non-citizens. Vesti Segodnya

Chas features opinion of the chairman of the NGO Baltijas Forums (Baltic Forum) Janis Urbanovics about society integration in Latvia. According to Janis Urbanovics, Latvian residents are witnesses to the birth and escalation of new radicalism, caused by the education reform. Chairperson also points to the necessity of resolving the Russian-speakers issue in Latvia, as well as within the European Union, at the same time calling to suspend ‘futile attempts to assimilate non-Latvians, and to create ‘real provisions for solution of the non-citizenship problem.

Public policy portal

Public policy portal www.politika.lv features an article by the lawyer of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilvija Puce about the draft Anti-Discrimination Law. According to the lawyer, the draft law selectively ‘borrows provisions of the Race Equality Directive and the Employment Directive , at the same time ignoring other international documents binding for Latvia.

Vesti Segodnya reprints fragments of the article, published by the Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet, about society integration in Latvia. Norwegian newspaper concludes that Russian-speakers desire to re-vitalize Russian cultural community is antagonistic to the ethnic Latvians wishes. Newspaper states that implementation mechanism of official policy of society integration is the slow systematic diminishment of possibilities to live in an exclusive Russian-language environment.

Vesti Segodnya features an article about activities of the National Programme for Latvian Language Training and current situation with the teaching aids for Latvian language learning.