Flickr/latvia.travel
UN experts are concerned by the Education reform in Latvia. Three UN speakers, including Special Rapporteur on minority issues Dr Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye and Special Rapporteur on the right to education Dr. Koumbou Boly Barry have forwarded the corresponding question to the Latvian government. These requests came as a reaction to the Latvian Human Rights Committee protest, DELFI reports.
Decision of the Constitutional court also mentions the constitutionality of the vague demands on teachers' “loyalty” in the Riga appeal. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs has traditionally reassured UN that the current Education Reform doesn't contradict international obligations undertaken by Latvia.
The member of the Latvian Human Rights Committee has underlined that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave the answer following recent authorization of the Education Law amendments by the Parliament. Mission of Latvia to the UN was prolonging the case as much as possible, answering the request only on April 9th. By that time the amendments had been already confirmed by the top authorities.
Let us remember, Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis approved the bill annihilating the Russian schools, despite numerous protests of Russian community.
Russkiy Mir
