IV Inter-American System
| Author | Cecilia Medina |
| Published date | 01 June 1998 |
| Date | 01 June 1998 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/092405199801600208 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
NQHR
2/1998
to face all the hurdles in the procedures for applying for citizenship. Therefore, it is no
surprise that the issues discussed by the HCNM included, primarily, the current situation
regarding naturalisation procedures and possible ways that might encourage more people
to apply for citizenship
of
Latvia. The High Commissioner took the opportunity to
reiterate his recommendation in favour
of
granting citizenship to stateless children born
in Latvia since it regained independence in 1991. On another matter, the
HCNM
also
outlined his views relating to provisions contained in a new draft alternative language law
in Latvia which have drawn criticism for being too restrictive and not in full compliance
with international standards. A further issue discussed by the HCNM was the situation
concerning the printing and issuing
of
non-citizens passports, which began in early April
last year, to members
of
the non-citizen community in Latvia.
From 2 to 5 November 1997 the High Commissioner visited Ukraine where he had
meetings in Kiev and Simferopol (Crimea). The focus
of
the
HCNM's
discussions was
devoted to the question
of
the Crimean Tatars. During his visit to Kiev the
HCNM
opened
aconference on humanitarian problems which Tatar returnees and returnees
of
other
nationalities are facing in Crimea. The conference took place on the initiative
of
the
offices
of
UNHCR
and
HCNM
and was organised with the help
of
the OSCE Mission and
the Ukrainian Government. The conference was intended to find ways to improve the
situation with regard to the funding
of
projects which might be
of
assistance to returnees.
A final communique was issued at the end
of
the meeting which outlined the kind
of
areas
in need
of
Government and donor assistance, such as housing, the provision
of
electricity
and roads, and measures in the employment sector. The communique also highlighted the
need for more active coordination on the part
of
the agencies involved to work closely
with the Ukrainian Government in identifying specific projects which they could support.
On 23 and 24 November 1997 the High Commissioner visited Estonia. Just like during
previous visits, the discussions with Estonian officials focused on questions related to the
integration
of
non-Estonians into the Estonian society, including recent developments in
the naturalisation process and proposals regarding the granting
of
citizenship to stateless
children born in Estonia. The HCNM was informed about changes to simplify the
constitution test which applicants for Estonian citizenship have to pass. He also inquired
about recent proposals to create an Ombudsman institution, and about plans to improve
the teaching
of
Estonian language in non-Estonian schools. Although there is a keen
interest among the Russian-speaking population in Estonia to have adequate Estonian
teaching at Russian schools, the Government has difficulties in finding enough qualified
teachers for this job.
IV INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM
Cecilia Medina
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Case 11.436. Victims
of
the tugboat '13 de Marzo' v. Cuba (Report 47/96). In spite
of
the
fact that
Cuba
has been
011t
of
the inter-American system for over three decades, the
Commission continues to supervise the situation
of
human rights in that country, this time
through the examination
of
a case under the rules for individual communications (usually
the Commission would scrutinise
Cuba's
human rights situation by means
of
asection in
Its annual report, the 'mini country reports'). Acomplaint was lodged on 19 July 1994
stating that on 13 July four boats belonging to the Maritime Services Enterprise
of
the
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