News from the Ombudsman’s Office: October 2025
News and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in October 2025 (information in links mostly available in Latvian).
Ombudsperson’s opinion on mandatory consultations before termination of pregnancy
The initiative to introduce mandatory counselling for women who wish to terminate pregnancy raises serious concerns from a human rights perspective. This proposal by members of the Parliament, although formulated as a ‘support measure’ and a ‘protection of unborn life’, in fact affects a woman’s right to autonomy, self-determination, private and family life, and can also be regarded as an indirect coercive mechanism that disproportionately limits woman’s choice.
Acts rather than words are crucial in violence prevention
Ombudsperson Karina Palkova welcomes every political or legal initiative aimed at reducing violence and protecting people’s fundamental rights, including the draft declaration submitted by members of the Parliament on preventing and eliminating violence against women and domestic violence. It is essential that the difference between a declaration and a convention is explained to the public.
What are monitoring visits of the Ombudsman’s Office?
In Latvia, the Ombudsman’s Office is entrusted with the function of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). One of the main tasks of the NPM is to regularly visit places where people have or might be deprived of their liberty – orphanages, nursing homes, prisons, psychoneurological hospitals, accommodation for detained foreigners and asylum seekers – to prevent risks of ill-treatment such as violence, intolerance or neglect.
Municipality may not request co-financing from parents for children using school bus
Ombudsperson Karina Palkova calls on Salaspils municipality to change the binding regulations, which currently provide for parents’ co-financing of for children using school bus organized by the municipality. The regulations do not comply with the child’s right to free education, nor with the municipality’s obligation to ensure available education for all children. Changes must be made by November 27th of this year.
First successful Ombudsperson’s reception of visitors
On October 16, the Ombudsperson Karina Palkova had meetings with clients of the Ombudsman’s Office, during which visitors shared their problems and received legal advice and support. During the consultations the visitors shared different issues, the Ombudsperson is grateful for the trust and willingness to stand up for their rights.
Ombudsperson and organisations representing people with disabilities discuss topical issues and agree to meet regularly
On 13 October, the Ombudsperson Karina Palkova met with representatives of non-governmental organisations representing people with disabilities to discuss current cooperation, pressing issues and jointly outline the next steps for collaboration.
‘When life hits twice’ – contributions to pension insurance for parents of severely ill children are not fair
The Ombudsperson has found that state social insurance contributions for parents who take care of children with severe disabilities are inadequate, humiliating and unequal. The Ombudsperson invites the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers to review legal norms that are incompatible with the Constitution by the end of this year.
Immigration control in the context of human rights transformation
The resilience of the state external border and the ability of the responsible authorities to work together in maintaining the statehood and security of Latvia are regularly provoked by countries unfriendly to Latvia. Security at all levels is a priority for Latvia. By strengthening immigration control not only at the external border, but also in the capital Riga and elsewhere, we as a state confirm that we work with potential risks preventively, without waiting for any specific event or threat.
Winners of the article contest “Let human rights speak!” awarded
On 28 October, Ombudsperson Karina Palkova, Justice Director of the Baltic Human Rights Society Arina Melse and editor-in-chief of the portal Cilvektiesibas.info Ieva Andersone welcomed the winners of the article contest “Let human rights speak!”. The competition was organised for the fourth year in a row by the portal Cilvektiesibas.info in cooperation with the Ombudsman’s Office.
Ombudsperson participates in the meeting of Ombudsmen of the Baltic and Nordic countries
On October 23, the Ombudsperson Karina Palkova participated in the annual meeting of the Ombudsmen and Chancellors of Justice of the Baltic and Nordic countries in Vilnius, Lithuania. The meeting took place in the office of the Lithuanian Parliamentary Ombudsman, celebrating their 30th anniversary.
Upcoming events:
- 3 December discussion on media accessibility
- 10 December discussion on rotation of state officials
Ombudsman educates
- Quality of municipal housing has improved significantly over the last decade
- Students and teachers of Kurzeme and Vidzeme region get to know the risks of human trafficking and find out where to seek help
- Respect as value is highlighted with is examples in the children rights conference
- Informs on the impact and risks of artificial intelligence for internal security
- Students learn about the work of the office and gain insight into lawyer’s profession
- Foreign colleagues acquire the practice of the Ombudsman’s research on sexual harassment
- Expert presents research on risks of AI systems in the Gender Equality Committee