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Yesterday, Rinkevics delivered a statement at the High-Level Segment of 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. This is the first time that Latvia participates in the debate as a Council Member.

During the visit to Geneva, Rinkevics also had a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein to invite the commissioner the World Press Freedom Day events in Riga on May 2-4. During the meeting, they also discussed Latvia's priorities at the UN Human Rights Council.

Rinkevics stated on "Twitter" that the UN commissioner told him that he was satisfied with the situation of ethnic minorities and non-citizens in Latvia.

The rights of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians were also discussed at the meeting, and Rinkevics urged the UN to take active part in improving the situation in Crimea.

As reported, the UN Human Rights Council is the most important UN structure in the field of human rights. It is an inter-governmental body within the UN system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The council sessions take place three times a year.

Latvia has been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the period from 2015 to 2017.