Minority educational programmes include in addition content that is necessary for acquainting oneself with the respective ethnic culture and for the integration of ethnic minorities in Latvia.

Visible minorities

Minority prisoners

Minority communities' freedom of movement is limited, partly by perceived threats to their security.

Minority prisoners 177 63

In accordance with the Law On General Education, programme of primary education may be combined with a programme of minority education, including the native language of the respective ethnic minority, the content of studies that is related to the identity of the ethnic minority and integration in the Latvian society.

Only one minority community member is licensed to certify vehicular roadworthiness, making it very difficult for minorities to renew car registrations.

A strategic plan for minority broadcasting needs to be implemented (a priority).

4. The Governmental Office for Ethnic and National Minorities

Efforts have been made to increase minority employment in the revenue raising institutions and make them more accessible to minority communities.

Minority employment at the municipal level was adequate in 14 of the 27 mixed municipalities, albeit usually limited to offices dealing with minorities' issues, and with negligible representation at decision making levels.

BELONGING TO NATIONAL, OR ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND

Companies operated by minority communities need support.

Article 27 Rights of the ethnic minorities

Religious minorities may also require different types or contexts of participation than ethnic or national minorities.

Participation by minority communities (a priority) increased slightly 26 members of minority communities were recruited over the quarter (18 Serb, 2 Bosniac, 2 Croat, 2 Ashkali, 2 Turk).

Minorities' fears are fed by isolated incidents, not always condemned or addressed by local political leadership, in which transport services for minorities are stoned hate graffiti are painted on municipal buildings unoccupied minority houses are looted and minority language rights are not respected.

Programmes of general secondary education in the respective area may be combined with the programmes of minority education, including the native language of the minority, studies, which in their content are related to the identity of ethnic minorities and integration into the Latvian society.

Regional European instruments on minority rights use only the concept national minorities and do not refer to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities .

(b) Formed the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony' (CPRH) this is a joint advisory body with a membership selected ad personam from the minority communities, persons working with the NGOs that serve them, and representatives of key Government departments.

Minorities generally travel on specially provided transport, or with military escort, usually from one minority area to another, limiting their access to services, employment and justice, and thus limiting their opportunities for a normal life and sustainable livelihoods.

Tax offices have begun to open in minority areas.

The Committee also finds that the State party is in breach of its obligation to guarantee the right of everyone to equality before the law in the enjoyment of the right to housing, contrary to article 5, paragraph (e) (iii), of the Convention.

The majority community needs to create a climate in which members of minority communities, and in particular the Kosovo Serbs, feel confident they can return and remain in Kosovo.

A multi ethnic (18 per cent minorities overall 16 per cent Kosovo Serbs) and increasingly professional customs service is in place (a priority).

For a numerically rather small national minority or ethnic group in the national population the preconditions for life with an independent culture, language and identity must be secured with the help of the State.

The Committee invites the State party to facilitate the participation of ethnic minorities in the elaboration of cultural and educational policies.

Often, the most affected are children, women and persons belonging to minorities.

CONTENTS (continued)

AND LINGUISTIC MINORITIES 88 92 25

Progress has also been slow in dealing with unemployment, economic development and raising the living standards of minorities.

Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic,

Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

Instances of harassment of minorities continue to be reported, and a Kosovo Force (KFOR) escort is still required for the movement of those minorities in some areas.

ADALAH The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Shafa'amr

The two major private broadcasters have no programmes in minority languages.

Representation at senior levels is needed.

United Nations study on minorities, supra note 76, at 8.

Minorities are especially prevented from returning to the centres of the cities.

12 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 22 (E 2005 42), chap.

Minorities (Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic) (resolution 2005 79) 304

The MES determines those subjects in the educational programmes of minorities that are to be studied in the state language.

2005 Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

Rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities

Some ethnic minority groups actually have a higher life expectancy than the ethnically Dutch population.