News
Reports
Visits
Letters
Third party intervention
Commissioner O’Flaherty intervenes in three cases concerning summary returns of asylum seekers from Lithuania, Latvia and Poland to Belarus
Commissioner O’Flaherty has published today his written comments to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of C.O.C.G. and Others v. Lithuania, H.M.M. and Others v. Latvia, and R.A. and Others v. Poland.* The cases relate to the alleged summary returns of asylum...
Statement
Latvia: Parliamentarians should uphold the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
“I call on the Latvian Parliament to reject the draft amendments to the Law on the State Border and the Law on the State Border Guard, which would legalise current practices at the border with Belarus that place persons in need of international protection at risk of pushbacks and ill-treatment,”...
Letter
Latvian authorities should put an end to pushbacks and safeguard the human rights of people seeking protection at the border with Belarus
In a letter addressed to the Minister for the Interior of Latvia, Māris Kučinskis, published today, the Commissioner raises concerns about the reported continuation of pushbacks at the Latvian-Belarusian border which has led to severe injuries suffered by men, women and children and the death of...
Letter
Latvian authorities should investigate human rights abuses at border with Belarus
In a letter addressed to the Latvian Minister of the Interior published today, Commissioner Mijatović expresses her concern about the reports of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants having been violently prevented from entering Latvia from Belarus, held in inhumane conditions in the forest,...
Statement
Latvia takes important step toward eliminating child statelessness
“I welcome the Latvian Parliament taking a decisive step toward eliminating child statelessness with the adoption of a law to grant automatic citizenship to children of “non-citizens” as of 1st January 2020, unless the parents opt for another nationality. This measure represents significant...
Letter
Letter to Latvian parliamentarians
Letter from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, to Latvian parliamentarians concerning ratification of the Istanbul Convention Read the letter: CommDH(2017)11
Statement
Latvia: disproportionate defamation fine against Tvnet.lv can chill media freedom
The decision of the Riga Higher Court to impose a 50,000 euros fine on the portal Tvnet.lv for damaging the reputation of the National Opera with an opinion article can have a deleterious impact on media freedom and public speech in Latvia. Though the appeal decision has reduced the fine levied...
Country visit report
Latvia urged to ensure gender equality and foster an inclusive society
“Latvia has achieved considerable progress in adopting legislation and policies which comply with human rights standards, but the authorities must engage in more sustained efforts to bridge the remaining gaps, in particular those which still hinder gender equality and more effective protection...
Country visit
Latvia: Strengthen policies against bias-motivated crimes and ratify the Istanbul Convention
“While Latvia has taken some important steps to advance human rights and reduce social exclusion, gaps remain in the protection of vulnerable groups. The authorities should develop community-based services for persons with disabilities, grant automatic citizenship to all children born in Latvia,...
Country visit
Human Rights Commissioner visits Latvia and Estonia
Commissioner Hammarberg today starts a visit to Latvia and Estonia to discuss with national authorities the implementation of the recommendations set out in his Memoranda to the governments, which were presented respectively in May and July this year. The visit aims at enhancing the ongoing...
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Republic of Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- The Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation*
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Kosovo**
* On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership.
** All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.