Newcomers from across Latvia joined “Discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech: what can I do?”, an online awareness session on May 14th. We had a diverse set of participants: expatriates, foreign students, asylum seekers, and persons with alternative or refugee statuses. 

During the two-hour interactive online session, participants learned about identifying discrimination, hate crime, and hate speech, analyzed practical situations, and the mechanism of how and where to report such incidents. 

Most of the participants agreed that though they experienced discrimination, have faced hate crime and/or hate speech directed at them, but never reported the incidents to any public authority or NGOs like Latvian Centre for Human Rights or Make Room.

We are glad to raise the much-needed awareness on the topic, educate the community of newcomers about the legal provisions when faced with discrimination or subjected to hate crime and/or hate speech. Discrimination, hate crimes, and hate speech are punishable offenses and wrong-doers can be brought to justice, but only if and when reported. We are here to help them seek protection and legal recourse. 

If you ever face a hate crime or hate speech, please report it by using the electronic form: click here!

In case of discrimination, you can report using this form: click here!

This was the first seminar of a series of 5 seminars raising awareness within the community of newcomers in regard to the topic. Please stay tuned for future updates!

The session was organised by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights in partnership with Foundation Make Room in the framework of a project “On the way to more tolerant society – awareness, education, support and cooperation”. The project is funded by the Island, Liechtenstein, and Norway through EEA / Norwegian grant program “Active Citizens Fund”.

#AktivoIedzivotajuFonds #ActiveCitizensFund #EEAgrants #EEAgrantsLatvia