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.

Integration and Minority Information Service of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights

• General Prosecutor: number of criminal cases on incitement to ethnic hatred has increased
• Latvian Language Agency will promote children’s state language learning

According to the General Prosecutor Eriks Kalnmejers, number of criminal cases on incitement to ethnic hatred has increased recently. The majority of cases initiated since 2009 are related to hate speech comments in the Internet forums or articles.  The General Prosecutor states that the Prosecutor’s Office and the Police are experiencing difficulties in choosing methods and criteria of evaluation on whether statements made in the Internet incite to ethnic hatred. The usual practice in these cases is to call for external expertise, such as philologists and human rights experts. Chas

The Latvian Language Agency (LLA) plans to conduct various events and activities in order to promote state language learning by ethnic minority children. According to a representative of the Ministry of Education and Science Liesma Ose, friendly and creative language learning methods would promote more positive attitude towards Latvian language and would widen its usage for children since early childhood. Representative of the LLA Vineta Vaidere believes it is very important to work not only with teachers but also with parents in order to show them how to teach and learn the language. Neatkariga

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Integration Monitor