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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:43 am
Time: 11:43 am
Results for hate crimes (latvia)
2 results foundAuthor: Kamenska, Anhelita Title: Combating Hate Crimes in Latvia: Legislation and Police Practice Summary: analyses the situation concerning hate crimes in Latvia, including legislation and police practises, in order to identify the gaps and to improve legislative and law enforcement responses to hate crimes. It provides an overview concerning the development of legislation criminalising hate crimes on racist and religious grounds from the Soviet period until present times, police structure in Latvia, statistics on hate crimes, police practises and challenges in investigating racist crimes as well as the increasing role of civil society in combating hate crimes. In the understanding of hate crimes, the paper has followed the ODIHR working definition of hate crime: A) Any criminal offence, including offences against persons or property, where the victim, premises, or target of the offence are selected because of their real or perceived connection, attachment, affiliation, support, or membership with a group as defined in Part B. B) A group may be based upon a characteristic common to its members, such as real or perceived race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or other similar factor. While the paper predominantly focuses on racist crimes, developments in Latvia in recent years strongly argue in favour of criminal legislation that would widen protection against hate motivated crimes towards sexual minorities, providing also for religious and homophobic motives as aggravating circumstances. The paper is one of the outputs of a two-year EU funded project, which has aimed to improve police capacity in identifying and investigating hate crimes, and to strengthen police and NGO co-operation and which has, inter alia, included mutual exchange study visits for Latvian and Czech Police and NGO representatives. The project also includes the publication of a research paper highlighting the experiences of victims of hate crimes in Latvia, national seminars and international conferences in both Latvia and the Czech Republic. All activities represent the search for new and effective ways of addressing hate crimes that would lead to improved policing, address the needs of the victims of hate crimes and foster meaningful co-operation between the police, NGOs and minority groups. Details: Riga, Latvia: Latvian Centre for Human Rights, 2008. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 24, 2012 at http://www.humanrights.org.lv/upload_file/Naida_noziegums_ENG_Internetam.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.humanrights.org.lv/upload_file/Naida_noziegums_ENG_Internetam.pdf Shelf Number: 124729 Keywords: Hate Crimes (Latvia)Human RightsLegislation (Latvia)Police Policies and Procedures (Latvia) |
Author: Dzelme, Inta Title: Psychological Effects of Hate Crime – Individual Experience and Impact on Community Summary: This report highlights outcomes of a qualitative study of the psychological effects on victims of hate crime in Latvia. It is a response to the question of why the immediate awareness and knowledge of the experience of hate crime victims is an important issue for the whole community. The study provides an overview of the research question, surveys the relevant literature, provides observations on the methodology applied, presents concrete field materials and data, and offers a discussion and summary of outcomes and implications. The analysis evolved from six in-depth interviews with hate crime victims and from an open focus group meeting of seven participants. The research participants were representatives of the so-called visible minorities, of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons), and of the Roma in Latvia. During the individual interviews and the group meeting, the experiences of victimisation were described both from the time of the incident and as perceived effects later. The description of experiences included thoughts, feelings, body sensations, the impact on themselves and others, and on their way of being in the world. Disclosure of the experiences was allowed to emerge spontaneously, unhampered by any prior expectations of this researcher. The collected data was analysed in accordance with qualitative research methods and standards. Nine core themes were identified as inherent in the experience: (1) trying to comprehend the victimisation: attempting not to take it personally; (2) seeing hate incidents as a burden on daily life; (3) far reaching impact of physical attacks; (4) passivity and lack of help from the people around; (5) physical symptoms and stress; (6) multiple layers of psychological impact; (7) personal consequences of victimisation; (8) impact on significant others, families, and children; and (9) consequences to the community; resentment of injury. This study reflects the psycho-emotional effects of experiencing hate crime victimisation in Latvia. Individual consequences include various physical and psychological constraints, including but not limited to changes in appearance and behaviours; attempts to construct personal safety measures; damage to self confidence; strain on personal relationships; restricted social activities; and withdrawal. The social consequences (i.e. resentment, constriction, emigration) of these experiences are analysed along with suggestions for future integration strategies. The determination to take part in activities for bettering the prevailing status of their social group and apparent burnout in some cases is discussed. Possible limitations of this investigation are also addressed. Details: Riga, Latvia: Latvian Centre for Human Rights, 2008. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2012 at: http://www.humanrights.org.lv/upload_file/Naida_noziegums_ENG_cietusajiem_Internetam.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.humanrights.org.lv/upload_file/Naida_noziegums_ENG_cietusajiem_Internetam.pdf Shelf Number: 125025 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesHate Crimes (Latvia)Victims of Crime, Psychological Impacts |