Human rights in Latvia

Last updated

Human rights in Latvia are generally respected by the government, according to the US Department of State and Freedom House. [1] [2] Latvia is ranked above-average among the world's sovereign states in democracy, [3] press freedom, [4] privacy [5] and human development. [6] The country has a relatively large ethnic Russian community, which has basic rights guaranteed under the constitution and international human rights laws ratified by the Latvian government. [1] [7]

Contents

However, human rights organisations have reported multiple problems. Especially non-citizens – including stateless persons – suffer from limited or no access to a broad range of rights. Also there were problems with police abuse of detainees and arrestees, poor prison conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption, discrimination against women, incidents of violence against ethnic minorities, and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals. [1] [8] [9]

In March 2020, Latvia derogated from some of its obligations under ECHR [10] and ICCPR, [11] having referred to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Latvia in the international human rights system

As of end-2019, European Court of Human Rights has delivered 144 judgments in cases against Latvia (beginning from 2001); in 115 cases, it has found violations of the European Convention on Human Rights or its protocols. [12]

UN Human Rights Committee has adopted views in three cases involving Latvia, as at 2020, in two cases finding violation of ICCPR (Raihman v. Latvia and Ignatāne v. Latvia). [13] In 2001, Latvia has extended a standing invitation to Special Procedures of UN Human Rights Council. [14] In 1990, Latvia has acceded to UDHR in an atypical move, which is understood in jurisprudence as accepting the declaration as binding. [15]

Participation in basic human rights treaties

UN core treaties [16] Participation of LatviaCoE core treaties [17] Participation of Latvia
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Accession in 1992, declaration allowing individual complaints isn't made European Convention on Human Rights Ratified in 1997
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Accession in 1992Protocol 1 (ECHR)Ratified in 1997
First Optional Protocol (ICCPR)Accession in 1994Protocol 4 (ECHR)Ratified in 1997
Second Optional Protocol (ICCPR)Accession in 2013Protocol 6 (ECHR)Ratified in 1999
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Accession in 1992Protocol 7 (ECHR)Ratified in 1997
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Accession in 1992Protocol 12 (ECHR)Signed in 2000
Optional Protocol (CEDAW)Not signedProtocol 13 (ECHR)Ratified in 2012
United Nations Convention Against Torture Accession in 1992, declaration allowing individual complaints isn't made European Social Charter Ratified in 2002
Optional Protocol (CAT)Not signedAdditional Protocol of 1988 (ESC)Signed in 1997
Convention on the Rights of the Child Accession in 1992Additional Protocol of 1995 (ESC)Not signed
Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (CRC)Ratified in 2005Revised European Social CharterRatified in 2013
Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC)Ratified in 2006 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Ratified in 1998
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families Not signed European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Not signed
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Ratified in 2010 Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Ratified in 2005
Optional Protocol (CRPD)Ratified in 2010 Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings Ratified in 2008

Latest published documents in reporting procedures

Experts' bodyState reportDocument by experts' bodyState response
Human Rights Committee2012 [18] 2014 [19]
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights200? [20] 2021 [21] .
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination2017 [22] 2018 [23] .
Committee Against Torture2018 [24] 2019 [25] .
Committee on the Rights of the Child2013 [26] 2016 [27] .
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women2018 [28] 2020 [29] .
European Committee on Social Rights2020 [30] 2020 [31] .
Committee for the Prevention of Torturenot foreseen2016 [32] 2017 [33]
FCNM Advisory Committee2016 [34] 2018 [35] 2014 [36]
European Commission against Racism and Intolerancenot foreseen2018 [37] 2019 [38]

Overviews by human rights organisations

Amnesty International

According to Amnesty International, non-citizens – including stateless persons – suffer from limited or no access to a broad range of rights, including the right to participate in political processes, and the right to employment in the civil service and private sector. The majority of them were born or lived almost their entire lives in Latvia. Non-citizens also have restrictions on property ownership. [8]

Amnesty International reported racially motivated attacks against Romani people. Latvia lacks of comprehensive national legislation dealing with all forms of discrimination. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have faced discrimination by verbal abuse. There were reported allegations of deliberate physical ill-treatment of detainees by prison staff. [8]

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch reported in 2006 the attacks on peaceful lesbian and gay pride activists in Riga on July 28. Earlier, Riga City Council denied an application by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations for “Riga Pride 2006”. The banned march was targeted by crowds of anti-gay protesters. [9] In 2009 the gay march was allowed by Administrative Court of Riga. [39]

Freedom House

According to Freedom House, Latvia has wide civil liberties. Also political rights are in a high level, though the country suffered high-profile corruption scandals during 2007. The government generally respects freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of religion. Academic freedom is respected in law and in practice. Freedom of assembly and association are protected by law and in practice. [2] The highly competitive Latvian mass media are proving to be reliable sources of information and watchdogs against governmental abuses of power. [7]

While the constitutional guarantee of judicial independence is generally respected, corruption in the judicial and law enforcement systems continues to be a problem. Pretrial detentions are long, police use excessive force against detainees, and prisons suffer from overcrowding and inadequate medical care. Women enjoy the same legal rights as men, but they often face employment discrimination. [2]

Alleged discrimination suffered by the Russian-speaking community continues to be debated. Parliament has appointed an ombudsman responsible for protecting the rights of individuals in relation to the government. Two men were sentenced to prison terms in January 2007 for attacking a Rwandan citizen. The case marked the first sentencing under a law prohibiting instigation of racial hatred. [2]

United States Department of State

According to Human Right Report of United States Department of State, Latvia generally respects the human rights of citizens and the large resident noncitizen community. However, there were problems with serious police abuse of detainees and arrestees, poor conditions at police detention facilities, poor prison conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption, obstacles to due process, official pressure to limit freedom of speech, violence against women, child abuse, trafficking in persons, incidents of violence against ethnic minorities, and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals. [1]

Specific issues of Latvia

After the restoration of independence in 1991, those who or whose ancestors had not been citizens of Latvia prior to its Soviet occupation in 1940 were not automatically granted citizenship. As of January 2011, non-citizens exceed 14% of the population. Russian language, being native for more than 37% of residents according to the 2000 census, is considered to be a foreign language in the Official Language Law; the possibilities to use it in communication with authorities and in public education were significantly reduced after 1991.

Like in many post-socialist countries, restitution of real estate has taken place in Latvia. Therefore, a considerable part of former tenants of public housing found themselves in private housing, with higher rent. Rent control for such dwellings was, after multiple extensions, phased out in 2007.

Since 2003, conflicts concerning freedom of assembly are often: on various occasions, gatherings of LGBT [40] and counter-meetings, [41] Remembrance Day of the Latvian Legionnaires [42] and counter-meetings, [43] meetings of the Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools [44] were banned or limited.

Limitations to eligibility and their enforcement were in the focus of several ECtHR judgments in cases against Latvia ( Ādamsons v. Latvia, Ždanoka v. Latvia, Podkolzina v. Latvia ) and UN Human Rights Committee views in case Ignatāne v. Latvia .

Participation, economic, social and cultural rights in digits

In the local elections of 2009, 79.7% of elected councillors indicated their ethnicity as ethnic Latvians, 65.5% were male. [45] In the parliamentary elections of 2014, 81 of 100 elected MPs were males, 71 indicated their ethnicity as ethnic Latvians. [46] For comparison, at the beginning of 2010 ethnic Latvians were 59.4% of the population (and 71.8% among citizens) [47] and women—53.9%. [48]

As of January 2021, the minimum monthly salary is 500 EUR and the minimum old-age pension is 149.6 EUR. [49]

The average calculated age pension in October 2020 was 403.41 EUR. [50] Average net salary in 2019 was EUR 793 (varying from EUR 565 in Latgale to EUR 883 in Riga). [51]

The unemployment rate at the end of November 2020, was 7.4% according to the State Employment Agency, varying between 5.7% in Riga region and 15.1% in Latgale. [52] Ethnic minorities and persons not indicating ethnicity composed 45.5% of the unemployed in the end of December 2014. [53]

Life expectancy at birth was estimated as 75.4 years in 2020. [54] In 2011, there were 6.3 outpatient visits to physicians per capita, 58.8 hospital beds and 39.1 physicians per 10 000 population. [55]

Pre-school education and nine-year basic education are compulsory. Secondary education (forms 10–12) is free in public schools. However, according to the Ombudsman, the constitutional principle of free education is violated by the practice of parents having to buy textbooks. [56] According to the 2000 census, 13.9% of those aged 15 and older and giving answers on own education had obtained higher education. [57] In 2011, 94.6% of basic school (9 years) graduates had continued their studies, as well as 63.6% of secondary school graduates had done. [58]

Human rights legislation and offices

National law

Human rights are granted by Chapter VIII of the Constitution [59] —"Fundamental Human Rights", adopted in 1998 and consisting of 28 articles. It includes both first-generation and second-generation human rights as well as some third-generation human rights: rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities and right to live in a benevolent environment. Article 116 defines goals allowing limitations of certain human rights: these are the rights of other people, the democratic structure of the state, public safety, welfare and morals.

Until adopting this chapter the core law in the field of human rights was the Constitutional Law "The Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person", adopted in 1991. [60]

Institutions

International rankings

See also

Literature

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Turkey</span> Overview of human rights in the Republic of Turkey

Human rights in Turkey are protected by a variety of international law treaties, which take precedence over domestic legislation, according to Article 90 of the 1982 Constitution. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was not signed by Turkey until 2000. As of today, however, Turkey is party to 16 out of 18 international human rights treaties of the United Nations. The issue of human rights is of high importance for the negotiations with the European Union (EU).

The human rights situation in Cambodia is facing growing criticisms both within the country and from an increasingly alarmed international community. After a series of flagrant violations against basic human rights a feeling of incertitude regarding the direction the country is emerging, sometimes comparing the situation to a newborn Burma.

Human rights in South Korea are codified in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which compiles the legal rights of its citizens. These rights are protected by the Constitution and include amendments and national referendum. These rights have evolved significantly from the days of military dictatorship to the current state as a constitutional democracy with free and fair elections for the presidency and the members of the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Kyrgyzstan</span>

Human rights in Kyrgyzstan improved after the ouster of President Askar Akayev in the 2005 Tulip Revolution and the installment of a more democratic government under Roza Otunbayeva. While the country is performing well compared to other states in Central Asia, many human rights violations still take place. While LGBT rights have been declining in recent years, freedom of press has been improving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Vietnam</span> Overview of human rights in Vietnam

Human rights in Vietnam are among the poorest in the world, as considered by various domestic and international academics, dissidents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Mali</span>

According to the U.S. Department of State's annual report on human rights in Mali for 2003, Mali's government generally respects the human rights of its citizens and observes relevant constitutional provisions and prohibitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in North Macedonia</span> Inalienable fundamental rights to which a person in North Macedonia is inherently entitled

North Macedonia is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and the U.N. Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Convention against Torture, and the Constitution of North Macedonia guarantees basic human rights to all citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Oman</span>

Oman is an absolute monarchy in which all legislative, executive, and judiciary power ultimately rests in the hands of the hereditary sultan, and in which the system of laws is based firmly on the monarchs made laws. Although a report by the U.S. State Department, based on conditions in 2010, summed up the human rights situation in the country by asserting that the government "generally respected the human rights of its citizens,", several international human-rights groups have described the state of human rights in Oman in highly critical terms. Article 41 of Oman's statute (constitution) criminalizes any criticism of the sultan, stating that "the sultan's person is inviolable and must be respected and his orders must be obeyed".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Jordan</span>

Human rights in Jordan are similar to or better than those elsewhere in the Middle East. Human Rights Watch reported in January 2018 that although recently there have been far-reaching reforms of the laws and regulations in the country, abuses against basic rights such as freedom of expression persisted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Bangladesh</span>

Human rights in Bangladesh are enshrined as fundamental rights in Part III of the Constitution of Bangladesh. However, constitutional and legal experts believe many of the country's laws require reform to enforce fundamental rights and reflect democratic values of the 21st century.

Human rights in Cyprus are protected by the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-citizens (Latvia)</span> Individuals resident in Latvia who have the right to a Latvian non-citizen passport

Non-citizens or aliens in Latvian law are individuals who are not citizens of Latvia or any other country, but who, in accordance with the Latvian law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR who possess neither Latvian nor other citizenship," have the right to a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government as well as other specific rights. Approximately two thirds of them are ethnic Russians, followed by Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Lithuanians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Liechtenstein</span>

Liechtenstein, a multiparty constitutional monarchy with a unicameral parliament and a government chosen by the reigning prince at its direction, is a prosperous and free country that is generally considered to have an excellent human-rights record.

Human rights in Estonia are acknowledgedas being generally respected by the government. Nevertheless, there are concerns in some areas, such as detention conditions, excessive police use of force, and child abuse. Estonia has been classified as a flawed democracy, with moderate privacy and human development in Europe. Individuals are guaranteed on paper the basic rights under the constitution, legislative acts, and treaties relating to human rights ratified by the Estonian government. Estonia was ranked 4th in the world by press freedoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Eswatini</span>

Eswatini, Africa's last remaining absolute monarchy, was rated by Freedom House from 1972 to 1992 as "Partly Free"; since 1993, it has been considered "Not Free". During these years the country's Freedom House rating for "Political Rights" has slipped from 4 to 7, and "Civil Liberties" from 2 to 5. Political parties have been banned in Eswatini since 1973. A 2011 Human Rights Watch report described the country as being "in the midst of a serious crisis of governance", noting that "[y]ears of extravagant expenditure by the royal family, fiscal indiscipline, and government corruption have left the country on the brink of economic disaster". In 2012, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) issued a sharp criticism of Eswatini's human-rights record, calling on the Swazi government to honor its commitments under international law in regards to freedom of expression, association, and assembly. HRW notes that owing to a 40% unemployment rate and low wages that oblige 80% of Swazis to live on less than US$2 a day, the government has been under "increasing pressure from civil society activists and trade unionists to implement economic reforms and open up the space for civil and political activism" and that dozens of arrests have taken place "during protests against the government's poor governance and human rights record".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Belgium</span>

According to international observers, human rights in Belgium are generally respected and the law and the judiciary provides effective means of addressing individual instances of abuse. However, some concerns have been reported by international human rights officials over the treatment of asylum seekers, prison overcrowding and the banning of full face veils. Capital punishment in Belgium is fully abolished and a prohibition on the death penalty is included in the Constitution of Belgium. Belgium was a founding member of the European Union and the Council of Europe and a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights. Belgium has minimal issues regarding corruption and was ranked 15 out of 167 countries surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Expression of racism in Latvia include racist discourse by politicians and in the media, as well as racially motivated attacks. European Commission against Racism and Intolerance notes some progress made in 2002–2007, mentioning also that a number of its earlier recommendations are not implemented or are only partially implemented. The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance highlight three generally vulnerable groups and communities: ethnic Russians who immigrated to Latvia under USSR, the Roma community and recent non-European migrants. Besides, he notes a dissonance between "opinion expressed by most State institutions who view racism and discrimination as rare and isolated cases, and the views of civil society, who expressed serious concern regarding the structural nature of these problems".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nils Muižnieks</span> American-Latvian human rights activist and political scientist

Nils Muižnieks is a Latvian-American human rights activist and political scientist. He had served as the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights between 2012 and 2018, succeeding Thomas Hammarberg (2006–2012) and Álvaro Gil-Robles (1999–2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Sweden</span>

Human rights in Sweden are largely protected in the country's constitution and ratified international law. The three Constitutional acts concerning human rights are Chapter 2 of the Instrument of Government, Regeringsformen, the Freedom of the Press Act, Tryckfrihetsförordningen (1949) and Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression, Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen (1991). Additionally, the European Convention on Human Rights has been incorporated into Swedish domestic law since 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Denmark</span>

Human rights in the Kingdom of Denmark are protected by the state's Constitution of the Realm (Danmarks Riges Grundlov); applying equally in Denmark proper, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and through the ratification of international human rights treaties. Denmark has held a significant role in the adoption of both the European Convention on Human Rights and in the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In 1987, the Kingdom Parliament (Folketinget) established a national human rights institution, the Danish Centre of Human Rights, now the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "2008 Human Rights Report: Latvia". United States Department of State. 2009-02-25. Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Map of Freedom 2008". Freedom House. 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-05-15. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  3. 1 2 "The Economist Intelligence Unit's Index of Democracy 2008" (PDF). The Economist. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  4. 1 2 "Press Freedom Index 2010". Reporters Without Borders. 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
  5. 1 2 "The 2007 International Privacy Ranking". Privacy International. 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  6. 1 2 "Statistics of the Human Development Report". United Nations Development Programme. 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  7. 1 2 3 "Country Report 2008 Edition". Freedom House. 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  8. 1 2 3 "Amnesty International Report 2009". Amnesty International. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  9. 1 2 "Latvia: Investigate Attacks on Gay Activists". Human rights watch. 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  10. Note verbale
  11. Depositary Notification
  12. Violations by Article and by State - 1959-2019
  13. "UN Treaty Body DJurisprudence" . Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  14. Countries having extended a standing invitation to Special Procedures
  15. Burbergs M., Kučs A. Vispārējai cilvēktiesību deklarācijai – 60 // Jurista vārds, 23.12.2008.
  16. UN human rights treaties database
  17. CoE human rights treaties database
  18. "report CCPR/C/LVA/3" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
  19. Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee on the third report of Latvia, CCPR/C/LVA/CO/3
  20. State Report
  21. "Treaty bodies Download". tbinternet.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  22. State Report
  23. Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
  24. "Report CAT/C/LVA/6" . Retrieved 2020-04-02.
  25. Concluding observations CAT/C/LVA/CO/6
  26. Report CRC/C/LVA/3-5
  27. Concluding Observations by CRC
  28. State Report under CEDAW, 2018
  29. Concluding comments by CEDAW, 2020
  30. 6th State report under ESC(R), on Articles 1, 9, 10, 15, 18§1, 18§4, 20, 24 and 25
  31. ECSR Conclusions 2019 Latvia (adopted 2020), on Articles 7, 8, 16, 17, 19, 27 and 31
  32. Report to the Latvian Government on the visit to Latvia carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 12 to 17 September 2013
  33. Response of the Latvian Government to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) on its visit to Latvia from 12 to 22 April 2016
  34. 3rd state report on FCNM
  35. 3rd FCNM Advisory Committee Opinion
  36. Comments of the government on the 3rd FCNM Advisory Committee Opinion
  37. ECRI Fifth Report on Latvia
  38. Government comments on the ECRI Fifth Report on Latvia
  39. Gays Without Borders: Baltic Pride Saved After Court Lifts Council Ban
  40. "Neatļauj rīkot gājienu "Rīgas praids 2006"". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  41. Jaunupu sauc pie atbildības, Ulmi – ne
  42. Cilvēktiesības Latvijā 2004. g.—Rīga: LCESC, 2005. ISBN   9984-9707-7-9.—35. lpp. Archived January 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  43. "Антифашисты возложат венки". Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  44. Cilvēktiesības Latvijā 2004. g.—Rīga: LCESC, 2005. ISBN   9984-9707-7-9.—34.—35. lpp. Archived January 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  45. Choose table PR10. ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA BY AGE, SEX, ETHNICITY AND EDUCATION QUALIFICATION Archived 2012-11-29 at the Wayback Machine The Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia website
  46. Statistical data on MPs elected in 2014 (in Latvian)
  47. Population of Latvia by ethnicity and by nationality, 01.01.2010 (in Latvian)
  48. Choose table IE03 POPULATION BY SEX AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia website
  49. Izmaiņas sociālajā jomā 2021. gadā Ministry of Welfare(in Latvian)
  50. «Pensiju (pabalstu) vidējais piešķirtais apmērs pa mēnešiem», Sociālā apdrošināšana, 2019 (in Latvian)
  51. DSG050. Average monthly wages and salaries by statistical region (in English)
  52. Bezdarba statistika (in Latvian)
  53. See 2. Bezdarbnieka statistiskais portrets (in Latvian)
  54. Latvia//The World Factbook
  55. "VA15, VA17, VA19". Archived from the original on 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  56. Latvijas Republikas tiesībsarga ziņojums par tiesību iegūt pamata un vispārējo vidējo izglītību bez maksas nodrošināšanu pašvaldības dibinātās izglītības iestādēs (in Latvian)
  57. Choose "Results of Population Census 2000 in brief" and "EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF POPULATION " Archived 2008-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
  58. "See IZ18". Archived from the original on 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  59. "Constitution (Satversme) of the Republic of Latvia". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  60. Constitutional Law "The Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person" Archived 2009-03-05 at the Wayback Machine //B. Bowring Report of a Second Mission to the Republic of Latvia on behalf of FIDH and Bar of England and Wales HRC, 1994—see Appendix 4, p. 71 (p. 41 in .pdf document)
  61. Homepage of the first committee's chairperson in Parliament's website Archived 2009-03-21 at the Wayback Machine (in Latvian)
  62. Saeima Committees
  63. About Constitutional court
  64. Composition of the Cabinet of Ministers in 1993—1994 Archived 2009-07-12 at the Wayback Machine (in Latvian)
  65. Composition of the Cabinet of Ministers in 1994—1995 Archived 2009-07-12 at the Wayback Machine (in Latvian)
  66. Regulations on representing the Cabinet of Ministers before International Human Rights Organisations
  67. Noteikumi par Valsts cilvēktiesību biroju Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Latvian)
  68. "Worldwide Quality of Life - 2005" (PDF). The Economist. www.economist.com. 2005. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  69. "Global Corruption Report 2007". Transparency International. 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
Public authorities
Intergovernmental organizations
Other states
NGOs from Latvia
International NGOs