Executive summary
In recent years, Latvia has been taking steps to transform its justice system ensuring that it works better for children. Rising cases of abuse and violence against children and young people, including during COVID-19 pandemic, have made these efforts more urgent. Building on the commitment to “leave no child behind” as part of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the 2020 National Development plan and the 2018-2020 Health Improvement Plan for Mother and Child, there is clear ambition to develop a more effective, efficient and user-friendly justice system. Indeed, the legislative framework provides for equal access to justice for children and for safeguarding their rights and including them in all proceedings affecting them. Latvia has implemented several policies and programmes focussed on preventing crimes against children, including abuse and violence. It is also taking steps to improve co-operation and planning among institutions and professionals in protecting children’s rights and enabling children’s access to justice, including the establishment of joint planning structures at both national and local levels. In addition, it is piloting the Barnahus model to help establish child-friendly and multi-agency services for child victims and witnesses of abuse and violence. Regarding equality and inclusion in legal proceedings, Latvia reports prioritising cases involving abuse or violence against children. The efforts made by the State Inspectorate for Protection of Children’s Rights and the Ombuds Office to develop informational materials and educational programmes for children on their rights are also worth noting.
At the same time, while current efforts are critical to strengthening the overall performance of the justice system and to protecting the rights and interests of child victims and witnesses of crime, a range of important challenges remain. There is scope to strengthen a child rights culture in Latvia by recognising that in addition to children’s rights, which recognise their specific circumstances and needs, they also have the same human rights as adults. There is room for a more child-centred vision for the justice system and for greater inter-institutional co-operation and co-ordination. In addition, implementing sound governance mechanisms with horizontal distribution of roles and responsibilities, investing in robust data collection methods, increasing human and financial resources, and capacity building are needed to deliver more targeted and accessible child-friendly justice services in Latvia. This would help improve integrated service delivery for children more broadly, including victims of abuse and violence. In addition, Specific measures, such as evidence-based planning and gaining a better understanding of the legal needs of children and young people, would help Latvia further transform its justice system. This, along with specific policies and practices for both children and young people, could help develop a child-friendly and accessible continuum of justice services, based on the principles of equality, inclusion, prevention and empowerment, to leave no child behind.
Finally, Latvia is strongly encouraged to continue implementing the Barnahus model as a child-friendly and interagency one-stop shop to support children who are exposed to or witness violence and/or abuse. Besides providing protection and integrated services to children, the Barnahus model will also reduce revictimization and help protect children’s’, as well as broader human rights. Moreover, the case for action in this area is backed by cost-benefit analysis, which shows that the Barnahus model will generate more benefits than costs after 20 years and that the benefits will increase along with the number of children supported per year by the programme, even when accounting for extra costs for additional staff to support an increased number of children.