Latvia > Human rights

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Ombudsman Law. -

Adoption: 2006-04-06 | Date of entry into force: 2007-01-01 | LVA-2006-L-75487

Provides the legal status, functions, tasks and procedure of the Ombudsperson to protect human rights.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law No. ("LV", 65 (3433) of 6 April 2006 on Ombudsman. -

Adoption: 2006-04-06 | Date of entry into force: 2007-01-01 | LVA-2006-L-90464

Aims at promoting and protecting human rights in Latvia. Defines, inter alia, Ombudsman's functions, competences, Ombudsman's offices functioning, his/her remuneration and social guarantees.
Repeals the previous Law On the Latvian National Human Rights Office (Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziot js, 1997, No. 1; 2005, No. 18; 2006, No. 2).

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Amendments to the Law on National Human Rights Office.

Adoption: 2005-12-15 | LVA-2005-L-74354

The amendments broaden the mandate of the Office and Ombudsman institution with overseeing implementation of rights of all groups to equal treatment, and granting the rights to represent in Court people who have lodged a complaint with the Office.

Latvia - Human rights - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 652 on the procedure for reuniting refugee families and families of persons holding "alternative status".

Adoption: 2005-08-30 | LVA-2005-R-72462

Describe in detail the procedure of application and reviewing of the application for reuniting refugee families and families of persons having "alternative status".

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Amendments to the Law on Asylum

Adoption: 2005-02-02 | Date of entry into force: 2005-02-03 | LVA-2005-L-72347

The amendments concern the procedure for detaining asylum seekers, conditions for refugees within the territory of Republic of Latvia and some social benefits.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law on Administrative Procedure. -

Adoption: 2001-10-25 | Date of entry into force: 2003-07-01 | LVA-2001-L-60611

Determines guidelines regarding the legal relationship between the state and the individual with the aim to protect individual human rights.

Latvia - Human rights - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Ministry of Welfare, Instruction No. 319 on health examinations, their frequency and the extent of examination of persons who practise or intend to practise prostitution.

Adoption: 1998-12-16 | Date of entry into force: 1998-12-16 | LVA-1998-R-56363

Approves health examinations of persons who practise or intend to practise prostitution. Provides sample health certificates for such persons as well as the order of issuance of these certificates.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Freedom of Information Act, 1998. -

Adoption: 1998-10-29 | LVA-1998-L-68559

Makes provision for public access to information under control of State administrative insitutions and local government institutions. Determines procedures by which natural and legal persons are entitled to obtain information from State administrative and local government institutions.

Latvia - Human rights - Constitution

Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia.

Adoption: 1998-10-15 | Date of entry into force: 1998-11-06 | LVA-1998-C-56340

Amendments so as to supplement the Constitution with a section "On Fundamental Human Rights".

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law on Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses (No. 839).

Adoption: 1998-10-14 | Date of entry into force: 1998-11-12 | LVA-1998-L-56343

Supplemets the Code with provisions against trafficking of persons and violations of the Law on trade and other economic activities as well as regarding illegal organisation of public gatherings, marches, pickets and use of national flags.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law on National Human Rights Office. -

Adoption: 1996-12-05 | LVA-1996-L-63655

Provides for establishment and tasks of National Human Rights Office. Office is independent state institution that promotes observance of human and citizens fundamental rights and freedoms. Office is legal entity with its own budget. It shall be independent in carrying out its duties. Tasks of Office include providing society with balanced information on human rights, guarantees and obligations as provided for in legal acts of Latvia; promoting understanding of these rights; reviewing complaints on violation of human rights as well as some related duties.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Radio and Television Law. -

Adoption: 1995-08-24 | LVA-1995-L-72466

Chapter I - General Provisions
Chapter II - Broadcasting Permit (licence) and Registration of Broadcasting Organisations
Chapter III - Production and Braodcasting of Broadcasts and Programmes
Chapter IV - Re-transmission, Cable Television and Cable Radio (Radio Transmission) Collective Reception Systems
Chapter V - The Rights of Broadcasting Organisaiton to Infomration and their Liability
Chapter VI - National Radio and Television Council
Chapter VII - The National Remit
Chapter VIII - Latvian Radio, Latvian Television and the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law on the Status of Former USSR Citizens who are not Citizens of Latvia or any other State. -

Adoption: 1995-04-12 | LVA-1995-L-63654

Applies to citizens of former USSR residing within the Republic of Latvia who are not citizens of Latvia or of any other country. Does not apply to military experts engaged in maintenance or dismantling of military facilities of Russian Federation on territory of Latvia. Defines rights and and obligations of such non-citizens. These include the rights and obligations contained in the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia as well as the following rights: right to maintain his or her native language and culture as long as this does not contravene laws of the Republic of Latvia; right not to be expelled from Latvia, except if such expulsion is carried out under procedure stipulated by law and if foreign country has accepted to receive expelled person. Prohibits expulsion to country were person risks persecution due to race, religion or ethnicity, as well as collective expulsion. Also makes provision for non-citizen's passport, loss of non-citizen's status, refusal of non-citzen's status, and divestment of non-citzen's status.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Act on the State of Emergency of 2 December 1992.

Adoption: 1992-12-02 | LVA-1992-L-41292

Defines the state of emergency as "a special legal regime for operation of agencies, enterprises, entrepreneurial associations, institutions and organisations of state power and administration, which allows the restriction of the rights and freedoms of physical persons and legal entities, as well as the imposition of additional duties to the extent and in accordance with the order stipulated by the present law" (section 1). Provides for the forms of State administration during the state of emergency (Chapter II), and for restrictions during the state of emergency (Chapter III). In Chapter IV, deals with guarantees of human rights and responsability. Available in English.

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law on the Press and Other Mass Media. -

Adoption: 1990-12-20 | LVA-1990-L-72465

Contains provisions concerning media including with respect to freedom of the press and the freedom to express opinions (art. 1) and the rights and obligations of journalists (Chapter IV).

Latvia - Human rights - Law, Act

Law on Rehabilitation of Unlawfully Repressed Persons. -

Adoption: 1990-08-03 | LVA-1990-L-63657

Makes provision for rehabilitation of all those persons who, on the basis of USSR Criminal Code, have been repressed without court sentence, who have been sentenced, or against whom criminal procedures have been handed down.