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Marika Bertule
was born in Latvia, 1970. Since 2005 she has been manager and developer at the
Crisis Pregnancy Center.
History
Family Association in Latvia (Asociācija
Ģimene) was officially registered in May 2008, but development of such
organization started much earlier. Several representatives from different
pro-life and family oriented NGOs met during the Family Celebration at the end
of May 2007 to discuss the necessity to unite their experience and strength to
develop mutual projects, lobby legislation changes, develop and implement other
much-needed changes.
The most important aim since the
first day was – to protect and promote the natural family, its values. All
developers agreed that active and aggressive defense combined with pro-active in
not just a good idea, but an issue for surviving for the Latvian nation.
Preconditions
Latvia is one of the smallest
nations in EU, having approximately 2,5 million inhabitants. Only 50% are
Latvians. There are only approximately 1,5 Latvians in the world. For decades
our birthrate has been negative. Recent economical and political changes
endanger existence of our nation and state. We’ve had Children and Family
affairs ministry for several years, but recently it was reorganized.
Aim
Family Association in Latvia
aims to become a non-governmental force, which will consolidate all forces in
Latvia to protect a healthy natural family, which basis is marriage institution
between a man and a woman. We plan to do that through developing pre-marital
counseling programs on state’s basis, proper education programs in schools,
developing family support centers throughout Latvia as well as having regular
large-scale conferences in Latvia etc.
Major achievements
We’ve succeeded to defend the
family definition in the Latvia legislation during the season of 2008-2009.
Constant legal monitoring is implemented.
An International Forum
Natural Family as a value and state’s priority was held on 15 May 2008.
Approximately 100 person’s participated from Latvia and abroad, including a
Minister, Parliament (Saeima) members, state’s and local government
institution’s as well as NGO representatives and politicians. The Forum was a
major success and as the result a Resolution with recommendations to the
Parliament of Latvia (Saeima) was voted through unanimously. This recommendation
was sent to all ministries, Saeima deputies, different institutions as well as
participants.
We’re in the process of
developing different educational programs in pre-marital counseling and
health-sexual education.
Future plans
We plan to continue above
mentioned long-term projects, to develop different financial projects to support
the Family Association, etc.
Second International Forum will
be held on 15 May 2010, where everyone is kindly invited.
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