News from the Ombudsman’s Office: April 2025
News and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in April 2025 (information in links mostly available in Latvian).
Apply for online training on sexual harassment
Interested parties are invited to apply for the free online training ‘Sexual harassment or NO=NO’ organised by the Ombudsman’s Office: training for general and professional secondary school managements and teachers will be held on 14 May at 14.00 – 16.00; for representatives of government institutions on 21 May at 14.00 – 16.00 and for representatives of local government institutions on 28 May at 14.00 – 16.00.
‘Election marathon’- lectures for pupils all over Latvia
In the end of April, with lectures on the importance of elections in democratic society in several schools in Latgale region the Ombudsman’s Office concluded the ‘election marathon’ for school youth.
Senior social care centre Liepa urgently needs to remedy violations: otherwise, their activity must be stopped
Senior social care centre ‘Liepa’ in Riga must immediately remedy breaches of hygiene and sanitary requirements, otherwise the supervisory authorities will terminate the contract for the provision of the service or even decide to suspend the service altogether.
Sexual remarks are not innocent among schoolchildren – young people may become liable according to the harshness of law
Sexual remarks, resentment and humiliation at school are not a rarity. The Ombudsman draws attention to the fact that this can be regarded not only as rudeness, but as sexual harassment, for which young people may incur administrative responsibility. But in some cases, even as sexual exploitation, according to criminal liability.
Winners of the Ombudsman’s moot court in human rights 2025 have been determined
On 26 April, with the victory of the team from the University of Latvia ‘Fluctus Legis’ (participants: Atis Alens Kabaļs, Elīna Freidenfelde, Krista Dzikoviča; trainer – Paula Kelly) the final of the Ombudsman’s moot court in human rights 2025 was celebrated.
Should nowadays there still be kindergarten and primary boarding schools?
Living in a boarding school is not the child’s second home. This is contrary to the right of the child to live in a family, which is the basis for their full development and preparation for an independent life. Unfortunately, several thousand children in our country are effectively deprived of regular contact with the family and the presence of a person of care and trust.
‘Barnahus’ in Latvia is still on its way to reaching the target
‘Barnahus’, created specifically for interviewing child victims of violence, should aim for the highest standards of professionalism, with the highest qualifications. Further efforts are still needed to achieve this goal.
Shadow Day at the Ombudsman’s Office
On 4 April, 12 students from Aizkraukle, Ādaži, Jelgava, Olaine, Riga, Talsi, Valmiera and Ventspils visited the Ombudsman’s Office during the traditional Shadow Day to get acquainted with the specifics of the professions of lawyer and communication or public relations specialist and their duties.
Deforestation can be compensated by afforestation elsewhere
The calculation of deforestation compensation for forest owners has become more proportionate and effective. One of the main changes is that residents will henceforth be able to choose between paying compensation or growing a forest elsewhere, thus compensating for the consequences of deforestation. This was also the Ombudsman’s recommendation almost three years ago.
How much does an official earn – a justified claim or just curiosity?
The requirement to publish the monthly remuneration calculated for officials on the homepage of the institution is a disproportionate interference in their private life and is incompatible with the Constitution. Already now, information on the remuneration is available to the public.