Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Latvia

Overview

National human rights institution in Latvia. Institutionally and functionally independent. We ensure that our society in Latvia becomes more aware about human rights (including children rights) and their protection mechanisms, as well as about good governance.

Brief history

The activities of the Ombudsman are regulated by the Ombudsman Law, which was adopted by the Parliament (Saeima) on 6 April 2006 and Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Latvia was established in 2007.

The Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Latvia is an institutionally and functionally independent, wholesome, autonomous subject of public law that ensures operation of Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia within the scope of competence stipulated in the Ombudsman Law and other regulatory acts.

Since 16 March 2016 Mr. Juris Jansons is the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia for the second term.

Governing laws and regulations

The document

Ombudsman Law

Year adopted

2006

Mandate

Sectors covered

Public

Legal standing before the courts

Representing victims of discrimination before the courts, Bringing proceedings in the name of the equality body [with or without an identifiable victim]

Functions

Making legally binding decisions on claims of discrimination
Making recommendations on claims of discrimination [or other decisions on the merit that are not legally binding]
Undertaking ex-officio investigations
Organising training, advising and capacity-building activities for particular stakeholders on meeting their obligations
Organising awareness raising and communication activities
Advising government on the development, adoption and amendment of law and policy
Monitoring national law and policy from an equality perspective
Carrying out specialist research on equality and non-discrimination
Reporting to national and international bodies on discrimination issues

Fields and grounds

Field	Grounds
Employment	Gender Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Race and Ethnic Origin Religion or Belief Age Disability Health Status Social or Socio-economic Status	View
Education	Gender Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Race and Ethnic Origin Religion or Belief Age Disability Health Status Social or Socio-economic Status	View
Housing	Gender Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Race and Ethnic Origin Religion or Belief Age Disability Health Status Social or Socio-economic Status	View
Social Protection & Healthcare	Gender Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Race and Ethnic Origin Religion or Belief Age Disability Health Status Social or Socio-economic Status	View
Goods and Services	Gender Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Race and Ethnic Origin Religion or Belief Age Disability Health Status Social or Socio-economic Status	View

Other grounds

Language, birth and origin, genetic characteristics, political belief, social status and social origin, political party affiliation, service condition, property, national origin, citizenship, education, occupation, origin, mental disorders, other.

Other functions

Addressing hate crimes, Addressing hate speech, Addressing violence against women

Other mandates of the institution

Multi-mandate equality body

National human rights institution, Office of Ombudsman, Designated as independent mechanism under UN CRPD Article 33(2), Equality Body, NPM under National Preventive Mechanism under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, Responsible for whistleblower protection, Other

Institution

Management and Appointments

Management

Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)

Ombudsman’s Office with the Ombudsman as its head has four legal divisions (children rights, civil and political rights; social, economic and cultural rights and discrimination prevention), Administrative division and Communication and International Cooperaion division.

Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board

Ombudsman is approved by theParliament of the Republic of Latvia (according to Ombudsman Law, Section 5). Nominations for Ombudsman are made by members of the Saeima. After nomination, members of the Saeima take a vote on the most appropriate candidate.Other staffs are assigned by Ombudsman and other head positions, for example by Heads of Divisions (according to Labour Law and Ombudsman Law, Section 18).

If there is any other available position in Ombudsman’s Office, usually Office announces a vacancy. It is done with job advertisement (according to the Labour Law, Section 32) and information in our homepage. Advertisiment is published in “Latvijas Vēstnesis”, that is the official publisher of the Republic of Latvia. Advertisement is dated and after the final date, our human resources specialist (Assistant to the Ombudsman) starts job interviews (according to the Labour Law, Section 33). The candidate who is the most appropriate for the vacancy is hired for the work.

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Parliament

Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Latvia

Full name in English

Full name in national languages

Postal address

Website

Email

Social media

Telephone number

Languages in which your institution can be contacted