May and June Newsletter
Summary of events and news from the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia covering May and June 2026.
Ombudsperson: Political parties’ programmes and meetings with voters must be made accessible to everyone
The Ombudsperson calls on all parliamentary factions representing the Saeima, in preparation for the 15th Saeima elections on October 3, 2026, to ensure that party programs, pre-election information, and meetings with voters are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. The Ombudspersons Advisory Council on Disability Issues has repeatedly pointed out that a significant portion of pre-election information -including party platforms and materials published on their websites is, in most cases, inaccessible to people with visual, hearing, or other functional impairments. This limits these individuals’ ability to make an informed decision on an equal footing with other voters.
The Ombudsman briefs the Saeima on the achievements of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia in 2025 and its goals for 2026
On May 21, Ombudsperson Karina Palkova presented a report to the Saeima on the work of the Ombudsman’s Office, highlighting that 2025 was a year of change for the Office, which—alongside its usual work routine required the ability to concentrate on priorities, the need to become more open, and the need to be more proactive in assessing the areas where the risks of human rights violations are increasing. Last year, the Ombudsman’s Office received 2,499 complaints, which is nearly 30% more than in 2024. This reflects both the public’s trust and their willingness to stand up for their rights and use legal remedies, and also the range of issues involved.
Artworks by students of the Latvian Academy of Art are on display at the Ombudsman’s Office
On May 29, a meeting was held at the Ombudsman’s Office with representatives from the Ombudsman’s Office and the Latvian Academy of Art (LMA) to review the results of the collaborative project launched in March of this year, as well as to engage in a discussion titled “The Artist and the Work of Art.”. “The right to freely express one’s views and the state-recognized freedom of artistic expression – what do the provisions of the Constitution mean in practice?” The discussion covered various issues related to artistic freedom and freedom of expression.
Report by Karina Palkova, Ombudsperson, to the Cabinet of Ministers, “On the Need to Review the Current Institutional Model of Orphan’s and Custody court”
Report by Karina Palkova, Ombudsperson, to the Cabinet of Ministers, “On the Need to Review the Current Institutional Model of Orphan’s and Custody court” reveals long-standing problems in the work of Orphan’s and Custody court; therefore, the Ombudsperson is calling on the government to develop a new institutional model by December 1 of this year and to implement it by January 1, 2028. The report found that the Orphan’s and Custody court system in Latvia is structurally fragmented and inconsistent. In Latvia, there is effectively “one system, but 42 different practices,” as each municipality organizes the work of its Orphan’s and Custody court differently, including in terms of funding, compensation, resources, and access. The Ombudsperson calls on the relevant institutions to review and thoroughly consider the models proposed in the report, while also encouraging them to develop additional models or create new ones aimed at ensuring the best interests of every child.
Anete Ilves, Advisor to the Ombudsman on international law and artificial intelligence, was elected Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI)
On May 26, 2026, Anete Ilves, Advisor to the Ombudsman on international law and artificial intelligence, was elected Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI). eing in charge of the ENNHRI working group means not only strengthening the reputation and visibility of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia in the field of artificial intelligence at the European level, but also representing the interests of European human rights institutions by collaborating with various European-level institutions and organizations.
A joint discussion organized by ELSA Latvia and the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia, titled “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP): How to Protect Freedom of Speech and Action in the Public Interest,” took place
On June 2, the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA Latvia) and Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia held an in-person discussion. The purpose of the discussion was to analyze the nature of SLAPP lawsuits, their impact on freedom of speech and advocacy in the public interest, as well as to provide information on the new legal framework, its practical application, and the challenges posed by its misuse in Latvia.
The Office of the Ombudsman is launching a project to establish a mechanism for screening procedures to monitor fundamental rights
On June 12, 2026 the European Union member states will begin enforcing the Regulation 2024/1356, which introduces screening of third-country nationals at the European Union’s external borders. The Regulation requires Member States to establish an independent mechanism for monitoring fundamental rights to evaluate whether human rights are respected in the applicable procedures. In Latvia, this function will be performed by the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia.
On June 15, Laura Šāberte started her duties as deputy ombudsperson
Laura Šāberte holds a Ph.D. in Law and is one of Latvia’s leading experts in medical law, with more than ten years of experience in the field of protecting patients’ rights. Laura is an expert at the Latvian Council of Science and an assistant professor at Riga Stradiņš University, as well as the author of several scientific publications in the fields of health law and human rights.