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.

• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has returned the amendments to the Criminal Law to the Saeima for review
• State Language Centre has fined three taxi-drivers for insufficient usage of Latvian language
• Olaine Camp for illegal immigrants was granted funding in amount of LVL 833,400 (EUR 1,185,821)
• Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg has presented a memorandum on human rights in Latvia
• Afro-Latvian association celebrated Africa Day on 25 May

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has returned the amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishments for discrimination adopted by the Saeima for review. The President has stressed that the amendments do not include punishments for other grounds of discrimination, e.g. language, gender, and disability. The President also has noted that two different offences – instigation of national hatred and violation of the prohibition of equality, have been included in the same article of the Criminal Law.

The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has returned the amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishments for discrimination adopted by the Saeima for review. The President has stressed that the amendments do not include punishments for other grounds of discrimination, e.g. language, gender, and disability. The President also has noted that two different offences – instigation of national hatred and violation of the prohibition of equality, have been included in the same article of the Criminal Law. Diena

Inspectors of the State Language Centre have fined three taxi-drivers for insufficient usage of Latvian language at work. The inspectors have also revealed eight false certificates on state language proficiency level of taxi-drivers.

Inspectors of the State Language Centre have fined three taxi-drivers for insufficient usage of Latvian language at work. The inspectors have also revealed eight false certificates on state language proficiency level of taxi-drivers. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Olaine Camp for illegal immigrants was granted funding in amount of LVL 833,400 (EUR 1,185,821) for the improvement of its facilities in 2008-2010. In 2006, 158 persons were placed in the Olaine Camp.

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg has presented a memorandum on human rights in Latvia to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The memorandum points out that Latvia have not fulfilled the ex-Commissioner’s recommendations concerning the rights of minorities and non-citizens, in particular, speeding-up naturalisation of elderly people; ensuring the rights of children who were born in Latvia after August 1991; granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections; and usage of minority languages in official communication with authorities.

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg has presented a memorandum on human rights in Latvia to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The memorandum points out that Latvia have not fulfilled the ex-Commissioners recommendations concerning the rights of minorities and non-citizens, in particular, speeding-up naturalisation of elderly people; ensuring the rights of children who were born in Latvia after August 1991; granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections; and usage of minority languages in official communication with authorities. Chas

On 25 May, the Afro-Latvian association with a support of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has celebrated Africa Day.

On 25 May, the Afro-Latvian association with a support of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration has celebrated Africa Day.