News

From May 21st till 22nd representatives of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe visited Latvia on issues related to national minorities in Latvia. OSCE High Commissioner of National Minorities representatives – senior adviser Jennifer Croft and senior legal adviser Laurentiu Hadirca and Ombudsman of Latvia Mr. Juris Jansons had fruitful meeting.

Ombudsman Office prepares and disseminates explanation for international cooperation partners and foreign embassies about situation of national minorities education in Latvia.

Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia Mr. Juris Jansons from 10th till 14th March participates in Human Rights Committee's 110th Session in Geneva. Parallel taking part in 27th ICC Annual Meeting. Ombudsman also gave speech about implementation of UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Latvia and about experiences with austerity measures and violations in human rights in times of limited economic resources in Latvia

In November 28, 2013 Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Latvia received letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia with request of information regarding the annual statements in the field of civil and political rights for the period from 2009 to 2013 for provision of further information to the UN Commission for Human Rights.

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia, actively involved in the discussion of the human rights issues on the international level, has observed that, due to the actions of certain non-governmental organizations, international bodies have developed incorrect vision of the respect for human rights of non-citizens in the Republic of Latvia. Confronting on national as well as international level presents the risks of splitting the society and emerging of differences between the representatives of different social groups in Latvia, and the responsible officials of the Republic of Latvia have failed to timely prevent such risks. According to the mandate to express impartial, objective view on the respect for human rights in Latvia, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia hereby points out to the shortcomings identified by the Ombudsman in the field of respect for the rights of non-citizens in the Republic of Latvia.

Riga, 18/10/2013. Today, on the Anti Human Trafficking Day of the European Union, the topicality of the problem within the global and Baltic States was emphasized in the press conference organized by the Ombudsman’s Office and the Society “Shelter “Safe House””. The participants pointed out that each Baltic State does their best to combat this contemporary form of slavery.

Ombudsman of Latvia Mr. Juris Jansons from 3rd till 5th October takes part in International conference "The observance of children's rights to family habitation. Analysis of the existing situation in the Republic of Moldova through the best practices of other countries" in Chişinău, Moldova.

9th National Smeinar of the European Network of Ombudsmen was held in Dublin, Ireland, from 15-17 September 2013.

Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia has published his Annual report on the year 2012.

Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia sent the letter about enforcement of human rights in Latvia to European institutions (European Council, European Parliament and European Commision).