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.

• Newspapers reports on events in the framework of the Week against Racism
• Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens calls on the mass media stop producing stereotypes about people of other races and ethnicities
• Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee considers that the Association of Ethnic Minorities should be granted bigger funding

Yesterday, an NGO “Golden Ball” in co-operation with the association “European Minorities – Branch of the Baltic and Scandinavian States” in the framework of the Week against Racism held an event “All Different. All Equal” for secondary school students in Riga. Representatives of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ombudsman’s Office, Afro-Latvian organisation and various ethnic minority NGOs took part in the discussion of issues concerning racism. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that Latvia has and will always remain a multinational state. In the framework of the anti-racism days an internet portal on Roma culture, history, NGOs and their activities

Yesterday, an NGO Golden Ball in co-operation with the association European Minorities – Branch of the Baltic and Scandinavian States in the framework of the Week against Racism held an event All Different. All Equal for secondary school students in Riga. Representatives of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, Ombudsmans Office, Afro-Latvian organisation and various ethnic minority NGOs took part in the discussion of issues concerning racism. The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens has stated that Latvia has and will always remain a multinational state. In the framework of the anti-racism days an internet portal on Roma culture, history, NGOs and their activities www.romi.lv was presented. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize, Diena

Diena reports that yesterday, the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Oskars Kastens called on the mass media to stop production of stereotypes about people of other races and ethnicities. The Minister drew attention to a particular advertisement placed by a shopping chain Buvniecibas ABC which according to the Minister contains an insulting picture and text. The advertisement shows an African man who in broken Latvian says I to want building yours house and the text behind the advertisement says All for construction and repair work but foreign labour force.

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee has held its meeting at premises of the Association of Ethnic Cultural Organisations of Latvia (AECOL). Members of the Committee stated that the government should find the ways to increase the AEOCLs funding. Head of the AEOCL Rafi Haradzanjans claimed that some representatives of the Integration Secretariat (IUMSILS in its Latvian acronym) are trying to split the organisation, as well as that the Secretariat fails to ensure appropriate funding.