The Latvian Government approves the UN’s recommendations concerning changes to the institutional model of the Orphans’ and Custody Court, as well as the strengthening of the Ombudsman’s Office
The Government has assured to both the people of Latvia and its international partners its commitment to implementing the Ombudsperson’s recommendations concerning the reform of the institutional model of the Orphan’s and Custody Courts, while also ensuring the Ombudsperson’s Office full independence and financial autonomy. This commitment is reflected in Latvia’s position on the recommendations received during the fourth cycle of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 30 June.
The UN recommends that Latvia implements the Ombudspersons proposal regarding the change of the institutional model of the Orphans’ and Custody Court (a municipal institution primarily responsible for protecting the rights and interests of children and incapacitated adults) so that the protection of children’s rights system would be more effective and would better meet the interests of children.
The Prime Minister, Andris Kulbergs, after meeting with Ombudsperson Karina Palkova, called for immediate improvement of the system for protecting children’s rights, assigning the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Justice the task of developing a new model for child rights protection by October 1. Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Latvia has undertaken to provide parliamentary oversight of the improvement of the child rights protection system, as well as the development and implementation of the new institutional model.
The government has supported the proposal to take the necessary measures to provide the Ombudsman’s Office with full independence and financial autonomy. At the same time, it was also reminded that already in 2015 and 2018, the Parliament of Latvia (Saeima) was called upon to include the Ombudsman’s office in the Latvian Constitution (Satversme), by adding a separate chapter titled “Ombudsman,” which would define the legal status, purpose, and independence of the Ombudsman’s Office, similar to the definition for the State Audit Office.
The UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism for assessing the human rights situation in all UN member states. In accordance with the procedure established by the UN Human Rights Council, a State delegation must present its national report to the UN Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review and respond to questions and recommendations raised by UN Member States.