• Cabinet of Ministers appointed a new representative in the international human rights institutions

Lawyer and advisor of the Foreign Ministry Kristine Lice appointed to the post of the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the international human rights institutions. Mrs Lice replaced Inga Reine who occupied this post since 2003.

Lawyer and advisor of the Foreign Ministry Kristine Lice appointed to the post of the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the international human rights institutions. Mrs Lice replaced Inga Reine who occupied this post since 2003. Latvijas Avize

• Vesti Segodnya reports about the development of initiative placing street signs in two languages
• Latvian Language Agency: there is no need to change principles of Latvianisation of non-Latvian names
• MP Andrejs Judins: proposal for ethnic Latvian families to host children from Russian speaking families did not get high response yet

Following initiative of an activist of an NGO “Native Langauge” Jevgenijs Osipovs, other organisation’s activist Illarions Girs put a street sign in Latvian and Russian languages on apartment building in Riga where he lives. However, shortly after, the house manager and the municipal police removed the street sign. The rules of the Riga City Council say that street signs should be only in Latvian language, although Mr Girs believes that it is legal to put street signs also in minority language and plans to appeal the decision to remove the sign he placed.

Following initiative of an activist of an NGO Native Langauge Jevgenijs Osipovs, other organisations activist Illarions Girs put a street sign in Latvian and Russian languages on apartment building in Riga where he lives. However, shortly after, the house manager and the municipal police removed the street sign. The rules of the Riga City Council say that street signs should be only in Latvian language, although Mr Girs believes that it is legal to put street signs also in minority language and plans to appeal the decision to remove the sign he placed. Vesti Segodnya

The Latvian Language Agency believes that spelling of non-Latvian names according to Latvian language grammar is one of the ancient language laws and there is no need to change it.  Latvianisation of names is justified by the principle of correct pronunciation of non-Latvian names. Adding endings (-s for male names, -a, -e for female) to non-Latvian names is necessary for designation of gender.

The Latvian Language Agency believes that spelling of non-Latvian names according to Latvian language grammar is one of the ancient language laws and there is no need to change it. Latvianisation of names is justified by the principle of correct pronunciation of non-Latvian names. Adding endings (-s for male names, -a, -e for female) to non-Latvian names is necessary for designation of gender. Vesti Segodnya, www.diena.lv (04.04.2012)

According to the MP Andrejs Judins (the Unity), his proposal for ethnic Latvian families to host for a while children from Russian speaking families did not get high response yet. At present there are couple of dozens of families who are ready to take part in such initiative. Mr Judins believes that in such way ethnic non-Latvian children will be introduced with ethnic Latvian traditions and other issues thus promoting integration. Mr Judins considers that Russian speaking families could do the same and host ethnic Latvian children.

According to the MP Andrejs Judins (the Unity), his proposal for ethnic Latvian families to host for a while children from Russian speaking families did not get high response yet. At present there are couple of dozens of families who are ready to take part in such initiative. Mr Judins believes that in such way ethnic non-Latvian children will be introduced with ethnic Latvian traditions and other issues thus promoting integration. Mr Judins considers that Russian speaking families could do the same and host ethnic Latvian children. Telegraf

• Amnesty International: only 5% of Roma in Latvia have permanent job

According a report of the Amnesty International, Roma are the most discriminated minorities in Europe and are forced to fight poverty and stereotypes. Only 5% of 11,500 ethnic Roma residents in Latvia had the permanent job in 2011.

According a report of the Amnesty International, Roma are the most discriminated minorities in Europe and are forced to fight poverty and stereotypes. Only 5% of 11,500 ethnic Roma residents in Latvia had the permanent job in 2011. Diena

• Latvian Human Rights Committee criticize the government for discussing implementation of the UN Human Rights Committees decision on Latvia at a closed session
• Judge of the Constitutional Court Kristina Kruma is nominated by the government as a Latvian expert for the ECRI

The Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC) sent a letter to the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics the case “Raihman v. Latvia” won by the applicant in the UN Human Rights Committee. As reported, in December 2010, the UN HR Committee decided that the Latvianisation of non-Latvian names and surnames (such as adding ending -s) in official documents issued in Latvia is interference in private life. Despite the decision, Latvia still did not eliminate the violation and did not take measures, including the amendments to the legal acts, in order to prevent similar violations in future. In March, the government discussed the implementation of the decision at closed session of the Cabinet of Ministers. The LHRC protests that such issue was discussed secretly and argues that issues concerning human rights cannot be a state secret. The LHRC demands the government to publish all the concerned documents.

The Latvian Human Rights Committee (LHRC) sent a letter to the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics the case Raihman v. Latvia won by the applicant in the UN Human Rights Committee. As reported, in December 2010, the UN HR Committee decided that the Latvianisation of non-Latvian names and surnames (such as adding ending -s) in official documents issued in Latvia is interference in private life. Despite the decision, Latvia still did not eliminate the violation and did not take measures, including the amendments to the legal acts, in order to prevent similar violations in future. In March, the government discussed the implementation of the decision at closed session of the Cabinet of Ministers. The LHRC protests that such issue was discussed secretly and argues that issues concerning human rights cannot be a state secret. The LHRC demands the government to publish all the concerned documents. Chas

The judge of the Constitutional Court Kristina Kruma is nominated by the government as a Latvian expert for the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). Mrs Kruma has experience working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and wide experience in academic field. As reported, previous expert from Latvia Nils Muiznieks was elected to the post of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

The judge of the Constitutional Court Kristina Kruma is nominated by the government as a Latvian expert for the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). Mrs Kruma has experience working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and wide experience in academic field. As reported, previous expert from Latvia Nils Muiznieks was elected to the post of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe. Latvijas Avize

• Border guards started to learn Arabic language
• Vesti Segodnya reports about the collection of signatures in support of granting citizenship to all Latvian non-citizens automatically
• Jevgenijs Osipovs: number of Riga residents will follow the initiative to place the street signs in Latvian and Russian languages

According to the State Border Guard Service, some of its workers started to learn Arabic language due to the large number of immigrants from Arabic speaking countries. The courses for border guards are co-funded by the European Commission. Border guards learn also other languages such as English, French and Spanish.

According to the State Border Guard Service, some of its workers started to learn Arabic language due to the large number of immigrants from Arabic speaking countries. The courses for border guards are co-funded by the European Commission. Border guards learn also other languages such as English, French and Spanish. Diena, Chas

Vesti Segodnya reports about the collection of signatures in support of the draft amendments to the Citizenship Law stipulating granting citizenship to all Latvian non-citizens automatically. The initiators of the action movement For Equal Rights brought the notary to the Riga district in which several higher education establishments are situated in order to attract students to the initiative. Students who signed for the initiatives explain that they do it in favour of their parents and grandparents who are non-citizens. At present, slightly more than a 1,000 signatures were collected.

According to one of the leaders of an NGO “Native Language” Jevgenijs Osipovs, a number of Riga residents will follow the initiative to place the street signs in Latvian and Russian languages. Such initiative was launched by Osipovs in Liepaja (city in the Western part of Latvia). However, the newspaper

According to one of the leaders of an NGO Native Language Jevgenijs Osipovs, a number of Riga residents will follow the initiative to place the street signs in Latvian and Russian languages. Such initiative was launched by Osipovs in Liepaja (city in the Western part of Latvia). However, the newspaper Vesti Segodnya notes, the rules of the Riga City Council stipulate that the street signs in the city should be placed only in the state language, otherwise the owner of the house might be fined.