National Safety Mechanisms - Latvia
National Safety Context
According to UNESCO's Observatory of Killed Journalists there have been no recorded deaths in Latvia since 1993.
There is 1 ongoing national action plan in Latvia with a specific component on improving the safety of journalists. More information on this initiative is summarised below including relevant links.
Memorandum of Cooperation on Safety of Journalists
The Memorandum of Cooperation to Ensure Effective Action on the Safety of Journalists has been active since 2020.
What activities are carried out?
The Memorandum implements several measures to prevent and protect attacks against journalists. A telephone hotline was implemented for direct contact for journalists and journalist associations to report threats. A contact person was set-up within the State Police dedicated to journalists requiring an immediate protective response from the police in case of imminent threats.
How is it implemented?
The Memorandum operates at a national level and seeks to establish a permanent system for law enforcement bodies to investigate journalists’ complaints. The activities are predominantly implemented by State Police.
Who are the stakeholders?
The Memorandum was initiated by the Ministry of Culture and State Police. These state bodies cooperate with the Latvian Union of Journalists and Association of Journalists in the implementation of measures.
For more specific information on the national action plan in Latvia and those in other countries please follow the links.
