Latvian Human Rights Committee
Encyclopedia
Latvian Human Rights Committee is a human rights non-governmental organization in Latvia
. It is member of international human rights and anti-racism NGOs FIDH, AEDH and ENAR
. Co-chairpersons of LHRC since 2004 are Aleksejs Dimitrovs, Genadijs Kotovs and Natalija Jolkina. According to the authors of the study "Ethnopolitics in Latvia", former CBSS Commissioner on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ole Espersen
"had visited LHRC various times and had used mostly the data of that organisation in his views on Latvia".
and Vladimirs Bogdanovs. In 1995, LHRC has joined FIDH and was registered by Latvian authorities.
Since 1994, LHRC periodically publishes an updated list of differences in rights between citizens and non-citizens
of Latvia. Since 1997, LHRC supports UNITED for Intercultural Action
. In 2007, LHRC has joined ENAR and AEDH.
institutions:
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. It is member of international human rights and anti-racism NGOs FIDH, AEDH and ENAR
European Network Against Racism
The European Network Against Racism is a coalition of over 600 EU NGOs working to promote equality of treatment within the member states...
. Co-chairpersons of LHRC since 2004 are Aleksejs Dimitrovs, Genadijs Kotovs and Natalija Jolkina. According to the authors of the study "Ethnopolitics in Latvia", former CBSS Commissioner on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ole Espersen
Ole Espersen
Ole Mogens Espersen is a previous Danish politician and minister representing the Socialdemocratic party in Denmark. Espersen was Minister of Justice during two cabinets of Anker Jørgensen in the 1980's...
"had visited LHRC various times and had used mostly the data of that organisation in his views on Latvia".
History
In 1992, LHRC was founded (then — as Latvian Human Rights and International Humanitarian Co-operation Committee) by a group of people co-operating since 1990, led by Tatjana ŽdanokaTatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
and Vladimirs Bogdanovs. In 1995, LHRC has joined FIDH and was registered by Latvian authorities.
Since 1994, LHRC periodically publishes an updated list of differences in rights between citizens and non-citizens
Non-citizens (Latvia)
Non-citizens in Latvian law are individuals who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country but, who, in accordance with the Latvian law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR who possess neither Latvian nor other citizenship", have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by...
of Latvia. Since 1997, LHRC supports UNITED for Intercultural Action
UNITED for Intercultural Action
UNITED for Intercultural Action is the biggest European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees, in which over 560 organisations from 46 European countries cooperate...
. In 2007, LHRC has joined ENAR and AEDH.
Publications
The following printed publications in English were issued or prepared by LHRC:- Human Rights and Minorities in Latvia (1999)
- Report on the Implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Latvia (2002)
- Media Legislation, Minority Issues, and Implications for Latvia (2003)
- Citizens of a Non-Existent State (2008; includes the aforementioned list) (prepared in co-operation with Legal Information Centre for Human RightsLegal Information Centre for Human RightsLegal Information Centre for Human Rights is a non-governmental organisation based in Estonia. It participates at the EU FRA's Fundamental Rights Platform and is FRA's RAXEN focus group for Estonia, AEDH and ENAR as well as supports UNITED network....
)
Cases before international judicial bodies
LHRC members have worked on the following cases before international human rightsinstitutions:
- Agafonova v. Latvia (UN HRCHuman Rights CommitteeThe United Nations Human Rights Committee is a United Nations body of 18 experts that meets three times a year for four-week sessions to consider the five-yearly reports submitted by 162 UN member states on their compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,...
) — Latvia has issued residence permit for the applicant - Ignatāne v. LatviaIgnatāne v. LatviaIgnatāne v. Latvia was a case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2001.-Facts and proceedings:...
(UN HRC) — views in favour of Ignatane (2001) - Podkolzina v. LatviaPodkolzina v. LatviaPodkolzina v. Latvia was a case argued before the European Court of Human Rights and decided in 2002.-Facts:Mrs. I. Podkolzina, member of Equal Rights party was included in the list of the candidates of the National Harmony Party for 1998 parliamentary elections, submitted in July...
(ECtHR; later, British lawyer W. Bowring has taken the representation) — judgment in favour of Podkolzina (2002) - Rudova v. Latvia (ECtHR) — decision in favour of government (2002)
- Kuhareca v. Latvia (ECtHR) — decision in favour of government (2004)
- ŽdanokaTatjana ŽdanokaTatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
v. Latvia (ECtHR; later, British lawyer W. Bowring has taken the representation) — 5:2 judgment in favour of Ždanoka (2004), 13:4 Grand Chamber final judgment in favour of government (2006) - Ševanova v. Latvia (ECtHR) — judgment in favour of Ševanova (2006), decision to struck the case out of list, paying costs to Ševanova (2007),
- Mitina v. Latvia (ECtHR) — partial decision (2002) and final decision (2006) in favour of government
- Miholapa v. Latvia (ECtHR; later, British lawyer W. Bowring has taken the representation) — judgment in favour of Miholapa (2007)
- Andrejeva v. LatviaAndrejeva v. LatviaAndrejeva v. Latvia was a case decided by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in 2009. It has concerned ex parte proceedings and discrimination in calculating retirement pensions for non-citizens of Latvia.-Facts:Ms. N...
(ECtHR) — Grand Chamber 16:1 judgment in favour of Andrejeva (2009) - Raihman v. LatviaRaihman v. LatviaRaihman v. Latvia was a case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2010 .-Facts and proceedings:...
(UN HRC) — 13:2 views in favour of Raihman (2010) - Petropavlovskis v. Latvia (ECtHR) — declared admissible (2008)