A/HRC/18/9 9. Latvian society is multi-ethnic and has a long history of interethnic tolerance. Latvia guarantees cultural autonomy for all its national minorities and provides significant support for strengthening their identities. National minorities actively use their constitutionally guaranteed rights and Latvia financially ensures education in eight national minority languages. 10. Latvia referred to the 2001 State Program for Society Integration and indicated that it was currently elaborating new draft policy guidelines on integration. One example of successful integration policy, highlighted by the Council of Europe as a good practice, is the integration of the Roma into Latvian society with the recent development of a special programme of professional training for teacher assistants with Roma background. 11. Latvia has devoted much effort and resources to ensuring that persons belonging to national minorities and recent immigrants obtain good knowledge of the Latvian language. The results are encouraging and knowledge of Latvian is steadily improving in all segments of the society. 12. Given the specific demographic situation prevailing in the 1990s, Latvia granted the special temporary status of non-citizens to former USSR citizens residing in Latvia and who did not have any other citizenship. Non-citizens enjoy most of the rights guaranteed to Latvian citizens. A new citizenship law was adopted in 1994 and a naturalization procedure was introduced. Since then, the number of non-citizens has decreased by more than 50 per cent. Latvia remains committed to the process of civic integration. 13. Latvia considers cooperation between State and non-State actors essential, and State institutions and municipalities closely cooperated with NGOs through consultative institutions and mechanisms. 14. In response to advance questions, Latvia indicated that it had achieved remarkable results on gender equality, although further work was still needed to achieve full de facto equality. It continues to promote measures aimed at a better reconciliation of family duties and employment and at enhancing women's participation in political and economic decision-making. Latvia monitors progress achieved in this respect and is currently revising existing policy planning documents to incorporate newly emerging issues. 15. The Program for Eliminating Domestic Violence was implemented, notably through three priority activities: identification, prevention and institutional cooperation in the provision of assistance and rehabilitation services. Training, public information, access to psychological assistance and social rehabilitation services for child victims were some issues mentioned. Domestic violence is also included in the 2011 State Family Policy Guidelines and, since 2011, it is considered an aggravating circumstance in criminal law. Criminal procedure law also provides for restraining orders as a safety measure in cases of domestic violence. Latvia plans to introduce social rehabilitation for adults, victims of domestic violence soon. 16. Latvia indicated that the number and percentage of non-citizens continue to decrease steadily and currently stands at 14.5 per cent as compared to 29 per cent in 1995. Latvia continues to take measures to further facilitate the acquisition of citizenship. 17. Latvian Constitution and law prohibit discrimination on various grounds, including sexual orientation, and Latvia is in the process of transposing relevant European Union (EU) directives on non-discrimination. 18. Regarding hate crimes, in addition to specific provisions, the Criminal Law defines racial motivation as an aggravating circumstance and due attention is paid to the specifics of investigating racist or homophobic crimes. Police personnel, prosecutors and judges are trained on issues related to intolerance, racism and anti-Semitism. Topics relating to the Holocaust, anti-Semitism and xenophobia are included in school curricula. 4