United Nations
Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 38th Session
Universal Periodic Review of Latvia
Statement by Australia
11 May 2021
Australia welcomes Latvia’s continued commitment to human rights and real progress on legal frameworks that provide protection against incitement of social hatred and enmity. Australia commends Latvia’s efforts to strengthen its legal frameworks for the protection of the rights of LGBTI individuals, and the granting of automatic citizenship to children of so-called ‘non-citizens’. Australia welcomes steps taken to address social inclusion for the Roma people.
Australia recommends that Latvia:
- Strengthen efforts to protect the human rights of Roma people and take further concrete steps towards improving the situation of Roma children's access to education.
- Intensify measures to address hate crimes against LGBTI people and racism, including establishing a mechanism to report hate crimes as well as strengthening human rights training to law enforcement authorities.
- Strengthen efforts to ensure the protection of women against rape and sexual violence through possible legislative reform and establishing appropriate avenues for reporting abuse.