BackNews and events of the Ombudsman’s Office in July 2024:
Ombudsman’s opinion on the decriminalisation of drug use in young people under the age of 18
The Ombudsman supports the initiative to decriminalise drug use among young people under the age of 18, as the current criminal penalty does not address the problem: it does not reduce the propensity to use addictive substances and does not cure addiction; on the contrary, it may discourage them to seek help. The decriminalisation of drug use for this target group would not imply the authorisation of drug use.
Ombudsman replies: child’s right to receive information on healthcare in a comprehensible form if the child does not speak the state language?
The Ombudsman has received a question from a mother of a child living in Latvia on whether the doctor should communicate with the child in a foreign language (other than state language) or whether the medical institution is obliged to provide an interpreter if the child does not speak the official language. Short answer: the child has the right to receive information about their healthcare in an comprehensible form according to child’s age and maturity, but the doctor is not obliged to communicate in a foreign language.
Ombudsman calls for both administrative and criminal liability for sexual harassment
The Ombudsman calls for both administrative and criminal liability for sexual harassment depending on the seriousness of the type of sexual harassment, including assessing the victim’s dependence on the perpetrator.
Due Diligence Directive has been adopted – what’s next?
On 25 July 2024, Directive (EU) 2024/1760 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (Due Diligence Directive) will enter into force, making it mandatory for major companies to implement their human rights and environmental due diligence obligations.
Residents need to be informed about the plans for solar parks
Public participation must be ensured in the construction of solar-panel parks, the potential capacity of which far exceeds the needs of a single household and the area to be occupied remarkably changes the traditional rural landscape.
Entertainment noise, violence in the workplace and the problems of small rural schools – Experts from the Ombudsman’s Office participate the conversation festival ‘LAMPA’
On 5-6 July, the Ombudsman’s Office was also represented at the conversation festival “LAMPA” in Cēsis, discussing topics of public interest: entertainment noise, workplace violence and small schools in the regions and their role within the local community.
Study on regulated professions reveals inequalities
The Ombudsman asks the responsible ministries to settle the matter of parents of young children in regulated professions so that they can take full advantage of successive parental leave and therefore not lose their right to exercise their profession.
Source: The Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Latvia
