A/HRC/7/19/Add.3 page 2 Summary At the invitation of the Government of Latvia, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance visited Latvia from 20 to 24 September 2007. The objective of the mission was to gather first-hand information on issues that are relevant to his mandate. To this end, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with authorities from the executive, legislative and judicial branches, as well as civil society, representatives of minority communities and victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The Special Rapporteur concluded that Latvia has put in place legislation and a number of institutions aimed at tackling racism and discrimination, but that further steps are needed to complement these achievements with more holistic and global legislation covering all forms of discrimination. The Special Rapporteur found important areas of concern, particularly in terms of three generally vulnerable groups and communities, who nonetheless present distinct problems. The first group is composed of the ethnic Russians who immigrated to Latvia during the Soviet occupation, many of whom have yet to acquire Latvian citizenship and are living under the status of non-citizens. The second vulnerable group identified by the Special Rapporteur is the Roma community, which suffers, as in most European countries, from cultural stigma and socio-economic discrimination and live under marginalized conditions. Finally, the Special Rapporteur assessed the situation of a third vulnerable group, composed of non-European migrants who have only recently arrived in the country, and who have been subject to racist violence and hate speech, particularly in the electronic media, mostly from extremist and neo-Nazi groups. Contrary to traditional minorities, which have been present in the country for decades or centuries, these migrants pose new identity tensions that need to be overcome by the promotion of a democratic, equal and interactive multiculturalism. Latvia, like the other Baltic countries, is currently at a turning point in its history. The central challenge it faces is to build a democratic, egalitarian and interactive society by taking into account both the need to reassert the continuity of its national identity - shaken and eroded by occupation but deeply rooted in memory - and the recognition and respect of the rights of all minorities including those resulting from the occupation. Two principles should guide this process: respect for historical truth in the construction of the new national identity and non-discrimination of minorities. To fully implement this strategy, national and regional factors will be of key relevance as far as the Russian communities are concerned. The full respect of their rights - in terms of citizenship, language, culture and the eradication of any form of discrimination - is closely linked to their involvement and participation in the process of construction of a harmonious cohabitation and a new multicultural nation that is fully respected by all countries in the region. Another pressing challenge is to prepare Latvian society for the progressive but steady arrival of new waves of non-European migrants who bear their own traditions, cultures and religions. This challenge is also an opportunity to enrich Latvian society with more diversity, intercultural dialogue and interaction.