“Hamid. The Refugee who stayed.”
While many refugees and asylum-seekers are leaving Latvia to go to other EU countries, Hamid who is from Afghanistan calls Latvia his home and has applied for Latvian citizenship.
Openness. Humanity. Security: World Refugee Day 2017 in Riga
World Refugee in Riga: stories, virtual excursions and delicious Middle Eastern food.
Living Library in Riga: Stories as means for promoting understanding
“What matters is that they all have something to say, and that we can use conversation to erase the artificially constructed boundaries between ‘us’ and ‘them’ in order to see what unites us all”
UNHCR observations on Latvian law proposal to amend the asylum law
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has submitted our observations to the Latvian government’s proposed amendments of the asylum law. The proposal contains a number of changes regarding provision of reception facilities and social support. It also introduces new provisions...
Latvia supports UNHCR’s regional response to the Syria crisis
Latvia’s contribution of EUR 50 000 to the Syria crisis is an important expression of international solidarity in these times of unprecedented humanitarian needs and global displacement.
Volunteers tackle prejudice against refugees in Latvia
As the Baltic nation prepares to accept an unprecedented number of refugees, a volunteer group is trying to change attitudes
Knowledge of language is the key for becoming a citizen in Latvia
“I am very old, maybe too old,” says Georgij when asked about his age. He has spent almost all his life in Latvia yet he is one of 262,622 non-citizens in the country. Now he is about to leave the premises of the Office of Citizenship and Migration (OCMA) where he has attended a consultation on the naturalization process.
UNHCR launches a report about refugee integration in Latvia
The UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe (RRNE) launched its report “Integration of refugees in Latvia: Participation and Empowerment”, at a public event attended by participants from government ministries, public institutions, non-governmental organizations and the refugee community. The launch, held in the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) in Riga on 11 June, was jointly organized by UNHCR, the Ministry of Culture and NGO “Shelter “Safe House”” (Drošā māja).
Refugees and famous chef cook together during World Refugee Day celebrations in Latvia
2015. June 19th, Salvador Merlos, Riga The event brought together more than 70 people, including refugees, asylum-seekers, journalists and NGO staff, who met to remember and pay tribute to the 59.5 million people around the world forced to flee their homes due to war...