Integration monitor
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.
Март 9, 2012
- Ombudsman Juris Jansons: organisers of the events on 16 March have the right for freedom of assembly
- Head of the State Language Centre complaints about insufficient funding
- Teachers of kindergartens do not support transition of all pre-school education into Latvian language
- Roma association Nevo Drom built a farm providing work for Roma from low-income families
According to the Ombudsman Juris Jansons, organisers of the events on 16 March (un-officials commemoration day of Latvia Waffen SS legionnaires) have the right for freedom of assembly. The Ombudsman believes that the freedom of assembly cannot be restricted by political motives and the potential threat to public order cannot be used as an argument for banning the events. Therefore, the Ombudsman appealed to the Mayor of the Riga City Council Nils Usakovs to provide justification of why the applications for public events on 16 March were banned. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize
Head of the State Language Centre Maris Baltins complaints about insufficient funding from the state. Due to this reason, the Centre is limited in its activities. Mr Baltins states that the Centre most often associated in the society as a repressive institution and the aim of the Centre now is to change such perceptions building the image of motivating institution. Therefore, the Centre will hold an action Friendly environment for Latvian language in order to identify and award the enterprises working in the area of services which most fully observe regulation of the state language legal norms. Latvijas Avize
The Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) national cultural Roma association Nevo Drom has built a farm which provides work for Roma residents of low-income families. The project got support of the Soros Foundation which awarded grants to Roma involved in the project. Chas