Foreword
Latvia has been making consistent efforts to transform its justice system to be more people- and child-friendly in recent years. These include declaring a commitment to “leaving no child behind”, in line with Latvia’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, implementing the 2020 National Development Plan, and presenting a vision for the Latvian justice system by 2027. It has also partnered with international institutions such as the OECD, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe to establish a people-centred and child- friendly justice system and implement the Barnahus model - an interagency service delivery model - to provide joined-up services to children and young people who are victims or witnesses of abuse and violence.
Abuse and violence against children and young people has been increasing at considerable rates in recent years – and during the COVID-19 pandemic – in several countries, including Latvia. In addition, children and young people are becoming more exposed to online crimes such as online sexual exploitation, abuse and cyberbullying.
This report takes stock of Latvia’s efforts to date and offers an assessment of the child-friendliness of current justice policies and programmes. It also makes specific policy recommendations to Latvia for putting children’s needs at the centre of the justice system, including the implementation of the Barnahus model. The analysis relies on data collected during online fact-finding missions and multi-stakeholder and individual interviews, including Latvian public officials, medical staff, social workers, school principals, legal professionals, members of civil society organisations - both at the national and local levels. In addition, the report drew on the results of a Legal Needs Survey of Children in Latvia to integrate the voices of children and young people and estimate the costs and benefits of introducing the Barnahus model in Latvia under four different scenarios. The recommendations are tailored to the specific needs of children and young people in the Latvian context, and seek to support Latvia in making its justice system more child friendly by prioritising children in service design and delivery, promoting democracy and the rule of law.