Human rights in Latvia
Encyclopedia
Human rights in Latvia are generally respected by the government, according to the US Department of State and Freedom House. Latvia
is ranked above-average among the world's sovereign states in democracy
, press freedom, privacy
and human development
. The country has a large ethnic Russian community, whom has guaranteed a basic rights under the constitution
and international human rights law
s ratified by the Latvian government.
However, human rights organisations have reported multiple problems. Especially non-citizens – including stateless persons – suffer from limited or no access to a broad range of rights
. Also there were problems with police abuse of detainees and arrestees, poor prison
conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption
, discrimination
against women, incidents of violence against ethnic minorities, and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals.
has delivered 41 judgments in cases against Latvia (beginning from 2001); in 34 cases, it has found violations of the European Convention on Human Rights or its protocols. In 2010, ECtHR adopted four more judgments in cases against Latia, finding violations in three.
UN Human Rights Committee
has adopted views in four cases involving Latvia, as of December, 2010, in two cases finding violation of ICCPR (Raihman v. Latvia
and Ignatāne v. Latvia
). In 2001, Latvia has extended a standing invitation to Special Procedures of UN Human Rights Council. In 1990, Latvia has acceded to UDHR in an atypical move, which is understood in jurisprudence as accepting the declaration as binding.
, non-citizens – including stateless persons – suffer from limited or no access to a broad range of rights
, including the right to participate in political processes, and the right to employment in the civil service
and private sector
. The majority of them were born or lived almost their entire lives in Latvia. Non-citizens also have restrictions on property
ownership
.
Amnesty International reported racially motivated attacks against Romani people. Latvia lacks of comprehensive national legislation
dealing with all forms of discrimination
. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have faced discrimination by verbal abuse
. There were reported allegations of deliberate physical ill-treatment of detainees by prison
staff.
reported in 2006 the attacks on peaceful lesbian and gay pride activists in Riga on July 22. Earlier, Riga City Council denied an application by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT
) organizations for “Riga Pride 2006”. The banned march were targeted by crowds of anti-gay protesters. In 2009 the gay march was allowed by Administrative Court of Riga.
, Latvia has wide civil liberties
. Also political rights are in a high level, though the country suffered high-profile corruption scandals during 2007. The government generally respects freedom of speech
, freedom of press, and freedom of religion
. Academic freedom
is respected in law and in practice. Freedom of assembly
and association
are protected by law and in practice. The highly competitive Latvian mass media are proving to be reliable sources of information and watchdogs against governmental abuses of power.
While the constitutional guarantee of judicial independence
is generally respected, corruption in the judicial and law enforcement
systems continues to be a problem. Pretrial detentions are long, police use excessive force
against detainees, and prisons suffer from overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Women enjoy the same legal rights as men, but they often face employment discrimination.
Alleged discrimination suffered by the Russian-speaking community continues to be debated. Parliament has appointed an ombudsman
responsible for protecting the rights of individuals in relation to the government. Two men were sentenced to prison terms in January 2007 for attacking a Rwanda
n citizen. The case marked the first sentencing under a law prohibiting instigation of racial hatred.
, Latvia generally respects the human rights of citizens and the large resident noncitizen community. However there were problems with serious police abuse of detainees and arrestees, poor conditions at police detention facilities, poor prison conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption, obstacles to due process
, official pressure to limit freedom of speech
, violence against women
, child abuse
, trafficking
in persons, incidents of violence against ethnic minorities, and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals.
Like in many post-socialist countries, a restitution of real estate has taken place in Latvia. Therefore a considerable part of former tenants of public housing found themselves in private housing, with higher rent. Rent control
for such dwellings was, after multiple extensions, phased out in 2007.
Since 2003, conflicts concerning freedom of assembly are often: on various occasions, gatherings of LGBT and counter-meetings, commemorations of Latvian Legion of SS soldiers and counter-meetings, meetings of the Russian School Defense Staff
were banned or limited.
Limitations to eligibility and their enforcement were in the focus of several ECtHR judgments in cases against Latvia (Ādamsons v. Latvia
, Ždanoka
v. Latvia, Podkolzina v. Latvia
) and UN Human Rights Committee views in case Ignatāne v. Latvia
.
As of November, 2010, minimum consumer basket was 169.92 LVL
(approx. 240 EUR
), the minimal salary being 180 LVL (raised to 200 LVL since 2011) before tax-paying and the minimal age pension — 49.5 LVL. Average calculated age pension in November 2010 was 183.40 LVL. Average salary after tax-paying in September, 2010, was 315 LVL, varying from 226 LVL in Latgale till 357 LVL in Riga.
Unemployment rate in the end of November, 2010, was 14.3% according to State Employment Agency, varying between 11.0% in Riga region and 22.1% in Latgale
.
Life expectancy at birth was estimated as 72.15 years in 2009. In 2009, there were 5.6 outpatient visits to physicians per capita, 64,0 hospital beds and 35,4 physicians per 10 000 population.
Pre-school education and nine-years basic education are compulsory. Secondary education (forms 10-12) is free in public schools. However, according to Ombudsman, the constitutional principle of free education is violated by practice of parents having to buy textbooks. According to 2000 census, 13.9% of those aged 15 and older and giving answers on own education have had obtained higher education. In 2009, 96.5% of basic school (9 years) graduates had continued their studies, as well as 68.7% of secondary school graduates had done.
Until adopting this chapter the core law in the field of human rights was the Constitutional Law "The Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person", adopted in 1991.
Public authorities:
Other states and intergovernmental organizations:
NGOs from Latvia:
International NGOs:
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
is ranked above-average among the world's sovereign states in democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, press freedom, privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
and human development
Human development (humanity)
Human development in the scope of humanity, specifically international development, is an international and economic development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. People are the real wealth of nations...
. The country has a large ethnic Russian community, whom has guaranteed a basic rights under the constitution
Constitution of Latvia
The Constitution of Latvia is the fundamental law of the Republic of Latvia. It was adopted by, as it states itself, the people of Latvia, in a freely elected Constitutional Assembly, on 15 February 1922 and came into force on 7 November 1922. It was influenced by ideas of the Weimar Constitution...
and international human rights law
International human rights law
International human rights law refers to the body of international law designed to promote and protect human rights at the international, regional and domestic levels...
s ratified by the Latvian government.
However, human rights organisations have reported multiple problems. Especially non-citizens – including stateless persons – suffer from limited or no access to a broad range of rights
Rights
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
. Also there were problems with police abuse of detainees and arrestees, poor prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
, discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
against women, incidents of violence against ethnic minorities, and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals.
Latvia in the international human rights system
As of January 1, 2010, European Court of Human RightsEuropean Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
has delivered 41 judgments in cases against Latvia (beginning from 2001); in 34 cases, it has found violations of the European Convention on Human Rights or its protocols. In 2010, ECtHR adopted four more judgments in cases against Latia, finding violations in three.
UN Human Rights Committee
Human Rights Committee
The United Nations Human Rights Committee is a United Nations body of 18 experts that meets three times a year for four-week sessions to consider the five-yearly reports submitted by 162 UN member states on their compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,...
has adopted views in four cases involving Latvia, as of December, 2010, in two cases finding violation of ICCPR (Raihman v. Latvia
Raihman v. Latvia
Raihman v. Latvia was a case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2010 .-Facts and proceedings:...
and Ignatāne v. Latvia
Ignatāne v. Latvia
Ignatāne v. Latvia was a case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2001.-Facts and proceedings:...
). In 2001, Latvia has extended a standing invitation to Special Procedures of UN Human Rights Council. In 1990, Latvia has acceded to UDHR in an atypical move, which is understood in jurisprudence as accepting the declaration as binding.
Participation in basic human rights treaties
| UN core treaties | Participation of Latvia | CoE core treaties | Participation of Latvia |
| Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is a United Nations convention. A second-generation human rights instrument, the Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races... |
Accession in 1992, declaration allowing individual complaints isn't made | European Convention on Human Rights European Convention on Human Rights The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953... |
Ratified in 1997 |
| International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976... |
Accession in 1992 | Protocol 1 (ECHR) | Ratified in 1997 |
| First Optional Protocol First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is an international treaty establishing an individual complaint mechanism for the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . It was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 16 December 1966, and entered... (ICCPR) |
Accession in 1994 | Protocol 4 (ECHR) | Ratified in 1997 |
| Second Optional Protocol Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty is a side agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It was created on 15 December 1989, and entered into force on 11 July 1991. As of... (ICCPR) |
Not signed | Protocol 6 (ECHR) | Ratified in 1999 |
| International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from January 3, 1976... |
Accession in 1992 | Protocol 7 (ECHR) | Ratified in 1997 |
| Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international convention adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly.... |
Accession in 1992 | Protocol 12 (ECHR) | Signed in 2000 |
| Optional Protocol Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international treaty which establishes complaint and inquiry mechanisms for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women... (CEDAW) |
Not signed | Protocol 13 (ECHR) | Signed in 2002 |
| United Nations Convention Against Torture United Nations Convention Against Torture The United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is an international human rights instrument, under the review of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture around the world.... |
Accession in 1992, declaration allowing individual complaints isn't made | European Social Charter European Social Charter The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty which was adopted in 1961 and revised in 1996. The Revised Charter came into force in 1999 and is gradually replacing the initial 1961 treaty... |
Ratified in 2002 |
| Optional Protocol (CAT) | Not signed | Additional Protocol of 1988 (ESC) | Signed in 1997 |
| Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children... |
Accession in 1992 | Additional Protocol of 1995 (ESC) | Not signed |
| Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Annex I of a resolution on 25 May 2000.The protocol came into force on 12 February 2002.... (CRC) |
Ratified in 2005 | Revised European Social Charter | Signed in 2007 |
| Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC) | Ratified in 2006 | European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was adopted by the member states of the Council of Europe, meeting at Strasbourg on 26 November 1987. It was subsequently amended by two Protocols that entered into force on 1 March 2002... |
Ratified in 1998 |
| Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families | Not signed | European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a European treaty adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe... |
Not signed |
| Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights instrument of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities... |
Ratified in 2010 | Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was signed on February 1995 by 22 member States of the Council of Europe .... |
Ratified in 2005 |
| Optional Protocol Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a side-agreement to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was adopted on 13 December 2006, and entered into force at the same time as its parent Convention on 3 May 2008... (CRPD) |
Ratified in 2010 | Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings The Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is a regional human rights treaty of the international human rights law by the Council of Europe... |
Ratified in 2008 |
Latest published documents in reporting procedures
| Experts' body | State report | Document by experts' body | State response |
| Human Rights Committee | 2002, 2009 | 2003 | 2004 |
| Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights | 200? | 2008 | . |
| Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | 2008 | 2003 | . |
| Committee Against Torture | 200? | 2007. | 2008 |
| Committee on the Rights of the Child | 2005. | 2006 | . |
| Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women | 2004 | 2004 | . |
| European Committee on Social Rights | 2009 | 2010 | . |
| Committee for the Prevention of Torture | not foreseen | 2004 | 2008 |
| FCNM Advisory Committee | 2006 | 2008 | 2009 |
| European Commission against Racism and Intolerance | not foreseen | 2007 | 2008 |
Amnesty International
According to Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, non-citizens – including stateless persons – suffer from limited or no access to a broad range of rights
Rights
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
, including the right to participate in political processes, and the right to employment in the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
and private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
. The majority of them were born or lived almost their entire lives in Latvia. Non-citizens also have restrictions on property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
ownership
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be an object, land/real estate or intellectual property. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties. The concept of ownership has...
.
Amnesty International reported racially motivated attacks against Romani people. Latvia lacks of comprehensive national legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
dealing with all forms of discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have faced discrimination by verbal abuse
Verbal abuse
Verbal abuse is best described as a negative defining statement told to you or about you; or by withholding any response thus defining the target as non-existant...
. There were reported allegations of deliberate physical ill-treatment of detainees by prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
staff.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
reported in 2006 the attacks on peaceful lesbian and gay pride activists in Riga on July 22. Earlier, Riga City Council denied an application by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
) organizations for “Riga Pride 2006”. The banned march were targeted by crowds of anti-gay protesters. In 2009 the gay march was allowed by Administrative Court of Riga.
Freedom House
According to Freedom HouseFreedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
, Latvia has wide civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
. Also political rights are in a high level, though the country suffered high-profile corruption scandals during 2007. The government generally respects freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, freedom of press, and freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
. Academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
is respected in law and in practice. Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...
and association
Freedom of association
Freedom of association is the individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests....
are protected by law and in practice. The highly competitive Latvian mass media are proving to be reliable sources of information and watchdogs against governmental abuses of power.
While the constitutional guarantee of judicial independence
Judicial independence
Judicial Independence is the idea that the judiciary needs to be kept away from the other branches of government...
is generally respected, corruption in the judicial and law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
systems continues to be a problem. Pretrial detentions are long, police use excessive force
Excessive Force
Excessive Force is a musical side project started in 1991 by Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM and Buzz McCoy of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult.-History:...
against detainees, and prisons suffer from overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Women enjoy the same legal rights as men, but they often face employment discrimination.
Alleged discrimination suffered by the Russian-speaking community continues to be debated. Parliament has appointed an ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
responsible for protecting the rights of individuals in relation to the government. Two men were sentenced to prison terms in January 2007 for attacking a Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
n citizen. The case marked the first sentencing under a law prohibiting instigation of racial hatred.
United States Department of State
According to Human Right Report of United States Department of StateUnited States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, Latvia generally respects the human rights of citizens and the large resident noncitizen community. However there were problems with serious police abuse of detainees and arrestees, poor conditions at police detention facilities, poor prison conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption, obstacles to due process
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
, official pressure to limit freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, violence against women
Violence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
, child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
, trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
in persons, incidents of violence against ethnic minorities, and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals.
Specific issues of Latvia
After restoration of independence in 1991, many residents of Latvia weren't acknowledged to be its citizens. As of January 2011, so-called non-citizens (more than by 99 % — representatives of the ethnic minorities, mostly Russians) exceed 14 % of the population. Russian language, being native for more than 37 % of residents according to 2000 census, is considered to be foreign language in the Official Language Law; the possibilities to use it in communication with authorities and in public education were significantly reduced after 1991.Like in many post-socialist countries, a restitution of real estate has taken place in Latvia. Therefore a considerable part of former tenants of public housing found themselves in private housing, with higher rent. Rent control
Rent control
Rent control refers to laws or ordinances that set price controls on the renting of residential housing. It functions as a price ceiling.Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world...
for such dwellings was, after multiple extensions, phased out in 2007.
Since 2003, conflicts concerning freedom of assembly are often: on various occasions, gatherings of LGBT and counter-meetings, commemorations of Latvian Legion of SS soldiers and counter-meetings, meetings of the Russian School Defense Staff
Russian School Defense Staff
Russian School Defense Staff or Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools — movement in Latvia for protection of public secondary education in Russian...
were banned or limited.
Limitations to eligibility and their enforcement were in the focus of several ECtHR judgments in cases against Latvia (Ādamsons v. Latvia
Ādamsons v. Latvia
Ādamsons v. Latvia was a case argued before the European Court of Human Rights and decided in 2008.-Facts:Mr. J. Ādamsons was a Soviet Border Guard. Border Guards were part of KGB....
, Ždanoka
Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
v. Latvia, Podkolzina v. Latvia
Podkolzina v. Latvia
Podkolzina v. Latvia was a case argued before the European Court of Human Rights and decided in 2002.-Facts:Mrs. I. Podkolzina, member of Equal Rights party was included in the list of the candidates of the National Harmony Party for 1998 parliamentary elections, submitted in July...
) and UN Human Rights Committee views in case Ignatāne v. Latvia
Ignatāne v. Latvia
Ignatāne v. Latvia was a case decided by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2001.-Facts and proceedings:...
.
Participation, economic, social and cultural rights in digits
In the local elections of 2009, 79.7% of elected councillors indicated their ethnicity as ethnic Latvians, 65.5% were male. In the parliamentary elections of 2010, 81 of 100 elected MPs were males, 76 indicated their ethnicity as ethnic Latvians. For comparison, in the beginning of 2010 ethnic Latvians were 59.4% of the population (and 71.8% among citizens) and women — 53.9 %.As of November, 2010, minimum consumer basket was 169.92 LVL
Latvian lats
The lats is the currency of Latvia. It is abbreviated as Ls. The lats is sub-divided into 100 santīmi ....
(approx. 240 EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
), the minimal salary being 180 LVL (raised to 200 LVL since 2011) before tax-paying and the minimal age pension — 49.5 LVL. Average calculated age pension in November 2010 was 183.40 LVL. Average salary after tax-paying in September, 2010, was 315 LVL, varying from 226 LVL in Latgale till 357 LVL in Riga.
Unemployment rate in the end of November, 2010, was 14.3% according to State Employment Agency, varying between 11.0% in Riga region and 22.1% in Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
.
Life expectancy at birth was estimated as 72.15 years in 2009. In 2009, there were 5.6 outpatient visits to physicians per capita, 64,0 hospital beds and 35,4 physicians per 10 000 population.
Pre-school education and nine-years basic education are compulsory. Secondary education (forms 10-12) is free in public schools. However, according to Ombudsman, the constitutional principle of free education is violated by practice of parents having to buy textbooks. According to 2000 census, 13.9% of those aged 15 and older and giving answers on own education have had obtained higher education. In 2009, 96.5% of basic school (9 years) graduates had continued their studies, as well as 68.7% of secondary school graduates had done.
National law
Human rights are granted by Chapter VIII of the Constitution — "Fundamental Human Rights", adopted in 1998 and consisting of 28 articles. It includes both first-generation and second-generation human rights as well as some third-generation human rights: rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities and right to live in a benevolent environment. Article 116 defines goals allowing limitations of certain human rights: these are the rights of other people, the democratic structure of the state, public safety, welfare and morals.Until adopting this chapter the core law in the field of human rights was the Constitutional Law "The Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person", adopted in 1991.
Institutions
- Since 1990, a committee on human rights exists in the parliament of Latvia (initially it was called Committee on Human Rights and Ethnic Affairs, currently — Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee)
- Since 1996, the Constitutional court exists. Private persons can submit applications concerning their constitutional rights to it since 2001.
- In 1993—1995, the office of State Minister for Human Rights had existed. In 1998, the office of Representative of the Government before International Human Rights Organisations was founded.
- In 1995, National Human Rights Office was created, transformed into Ombudsman's Office since 2007.
- Several NGOs also concern themselves with the state of human rights in Latvia, among them the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and the Latvian Human Rights CommitteeLatvian Human Rights CommitteeLatvian Human Rights Committee is a human rights non-governmental organization in Latvia. It is member of international human rights and anti-racism NGOs FIDH, AEDH and ENAR. Co-chairpersons of LHRC since 2004 are Aleksejs Dimitrovs, Genadijs Kotovs and Natalija Jolkina...
.
International rankings
- Democracy IndexDemocracy IndexThe Democracy Index is an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit that claims to measure the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 165 are UN member states...
, 2008: 46 out of 167 - Worldwide Press Freedom Index, 2010: 30 out of 178.
- Worldwide Privacy Index, 2007: 13 out of 37.
- Worldwide Quality-of-life Index, 2005: 66 out of 111.
- Human Development Index, 2008: 44 out of 179.
- Freedom in the World, 2008: Political rights score: 2 and Civil libertiesCivil libertiesCivil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
score: 1 (1 being most free, 7 least free). - Global Corruption ReportGlobal Corruption ReportThe Global Corruption Report is an annual report, covering the period from July to June, which provides analysis on the level of corruption across several nations of the world. The report is produced by Transparency International and in 2007 is in its sixth year of publication. It began in 2001...
, 2007: 49 out of 163.
See also
- ECtHR cases involving Latvia and decided on merits by the Grand Chamber:
- Slivenko v. LatviaSlivenko v. LatviaSlivenko v. Latvia was a case argued before the European Court of Human Rights and decided in 2003.-Facts:Ms. T. Slivenko was born in Estonia in 1959 and at the age of one month she moved to Latvia together with her parents. Her husband, N. Slivenko, born in 1952, was transferred to Latvia in 1977...
- ŽdanokaTatjana ŽdanokaTatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
v. Latvia - Andrejeva v. LatviaAndrejeva v. LatviaAndrejeva v. Latvia was a case decided by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in 2009. It has concerned ex parte proceedings and discrimination in calculating retirement pensions for non-citizens of Latvia.-Facts:Ms. N...
- Kononov v. Latvia
- Slivenko v. Latvia
- LGBT rights in Latvia
- Russians in Latvia
- Latvian nationality law
External links
Public authorities:
- Ombudsman’s Office
- Case-law of the Constitutional Court
- Representative of the Government before International Human Rights Organisations
- Human Rights Institute of the University of Latvia
Other states and intergovernmental organizations:
- Human rights in Latvia in the website of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsThe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is a United Nations agency that works to promote and protect the human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948...
- Report on visit to Latvia by CoE Commissioner for Human RightsCommissioner for Human RightsThe Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent institution within the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in member states...
, 2004 - Memorandum to the Latvian Government by CoE Commissioner for Human RightsCommissioner for Human RightsThe Commissioner for Human Rights is an independent institution within the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in member states...
, 2007 - ODIHR documents concerning election observation in Latvia
- US Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Latvia in 2009
- List of main claims and recommendations of international organizations and NGO to Latvia as regards rights of national minorities (compilation by Russian MFA, 2003)
NGOs from Latvia:
International NGOs:
- Information on Latvia in the 2010 Amnesty International Report
- Information on Latvia on the website of the British Helsinki Human Rights GroupBritish Helsinki Human Rights GroupThe British Helsinki Human Rights Group is an Oxford-based non-governmental organization which monitors human rights in the 56 participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe . Despite its name, the organisation is not affiliated to the Helsinki Committee for Human...
- Information on Latvia in the website "Minority Electonic Resources"
- Latvia: The Perilous State of Nationality Rights, a 2011 report focusing on statelessnessStatelessnessStatelessness is a legal concept describing the lack of any nationality. It is the absence of a recognized link between an individual and any state....
by Refugees InternationalRefugees InternationalRefugees International is a humanitarian organization supporting refugees and stateless people. It publishes annual reports, as well as approximately twenty-five field reports throughout the year on refugee issues, as well as comments on international aid issues around the world...