CAT/C/LVA/CO/6
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
24 December 2019
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of
Latvia*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the sixth periodic report of Latvia
(CAT/C/LVA/6) at its 1798th and 1801st meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1798 and 1801), held
on 20 and 21 November 2019, and adopted the present concluding observations at its
1820th meeting, held on 5 December 2019.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the dialogue with the State party’s delegation and the oral
and written replies provided to the concerns raised by the Committee.
B.
Positive aspects
3.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s initiatives to revise its legislation in
areas of relevance to the Convention:
(a)
The adoption of amendments to the Citizenship Law that simplify the
naturalization procedures, in particular for children under the age of 15 years, in 2013;
(b)
The entry into force of amendments to the Criminal Law that determine
torture as an autonomous offence under article 130 1, in 2014;
(c)
The entry into force of amendments to the Criminal Law that include marital
rape as an aggravating circumstance, in 2018, and the entry into force of legislation about
the protective measures regime for victims of domestic violence, in 2014;
(d)
The entry into force of amendments to article 77 of the Code on the
Execution of Sentences concerning the minimum personal space per inmate in single and
multiple occupancy cells, in 2015;
(e)
The amendments to the Code on the Execution of Sentences that allow for
the transfer of prisoners serving life sentences to a regime and premises for prisoners who
are not serving life sentences, in 2015;
(f)
The entry into force of amendments to article 24 1 of the Law on Entry into
Force and Implementation of the Criminal Law that amend further the definition of torture,
in 2015;
(g)
The entry into force of amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law that
broaden the fundamental legal safeguards afforded to persons deprived of their liberty, in
2016;
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-eighth session (11 November–6 December 2019).
GE.19-22386(E)