Latvia

Latvia

Right	Section	Contents
Freedom of Association	History	Legal protection of freedom of association was not added to the Latvian Constitution until 1998, 78 years after its original ratification (constituteproject.org). In this version, Article 102 states that “Everyone has the right to join associations, political parties and other public organisations” (constituteproject.org). “Latvia 1922 (Reinst. 1991, Rev. 2016) Constitution.” Constitute. Accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Latvia_2016.
Freedom of Expression	History	The earliest modern legal assertion of freedom of expression in Latvia can be traced to the amendments made in October 1998 to its Constitution (the Satversme), which was originally adopted in 1922 and reinstated on August 21, 1991, following Latvia's independence from Soviet control. These 1998 amendments formally incorporated human rights protections, including freedom of expression, which were previously safeguarded under an interim Constitutional Law. Article 100 of the 1998 states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely receive, keep, produce and disseminate information and to express his or her views. Censorship is prohibited." References: Jānis Pleps, "The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia: History and Modern Days," (Riga: University of Latvia, 2016), URL: https://tzpi.lu.lv/files/2016/05/Satversme_Pleps_angliski.pdf "Constitution of Latvia," Constitute Project, accessed June 11, 2024, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Latvia_2016 "Constitution of the Republic of Latvia." Saeima of the Republic of Latvia. Accessed June 5, 2024. https://www.saeima.lv/LapasEnglish/Constitution_Visa.htm#:~:text=100.,Censorship%20is%20prohibited
Freedom of Religion	History	The first assertion of freedom of religion is in the 1922 Latvian Constitution, ratified on February 15th. The right can be found in Chapter VIII, Article 99 (“Latvia 1922 Constitution”, 1922). “Latvia 1922 Constitution.” 1922. Constitute Project. February 15. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Latvia_2016. The Constitutional Assembly. “Latvijas Republikas Satversme.” LIKUMI Latvia . Latvijas Vēstnesis, 1993. Last modified 1993. Accessed June 17, 2022. https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/57980.
Freedom of the Press	History	Article 100 of Latvia’s 1922 Constitution protects press freedom: “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to freely receive, keep and distribute information and to express his or her views. Censorship is prohibited" (Constitute Project, “Latvia’s Constitution of 1992, reinstated in 1991, with Amendments through 2016” ).
Privacy Rights	History	Article 96 of the 1922 constitution states “Everyone has the right to inviolability of his or her private life, home and correspondence” (Constitute Project, “Latvia 1922, reinst. 1991, rev. 2016” ). https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Latvia_ 2016? lang=en
Voting Rights and Suffrage	History	Under Chapter II, Article 6, The Saeima shall be elected in general, equal, and direct elections and by secret ballot through proportional representation by Latvian citizens over 18 years of age. Citizens who are eligible to vote for The Saeima are also eligible to vote in national referendums according to Chapter III, Article 80 of the Latvian Constitution. (Constitute Project, “Latvia’s Constitution of 1992, reinstated in 1991, with Amendments through 2016” ).