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Description
The project aim is to significantly speed up the work on same-sex relationship regulation and the creation of a “Life partners” bill to protect the rights of LGBT because Latvia is one of only six EU countries without any legal protection or recognition of same-sex couples. So there is a need to continue educating society on the daily challenges that same-sex couples face, the flaws in the current system and the need to urgently protect all families living in Latvia. The project address a three-pronged approach: (1) analysis of existing laws and regulations that affect same-sex families, and identify necessary amendments to create inclusive family legislation; (2) a social experiment that will practically demonstrate what a same-sex couple would need to do within the existing system to regulate all matters through notarized contracts and power of attorney; (3) the project will include a social campaign “Protect all families!” aimed at educating the broader society on the need to create inclusive same-sex family legislation, importance of carrying out Constitutional Court decisions and at involving the larger population in civil society activities. The project will provide data and facts-based arguments for policy makers, politicians and other stakeholders. Project will improve the quality of dialogue between state actors, policy stakeholders, NGOs and civil society members, also improve understanding within the wider society faced by same-sex couples who want to register their partnership, but cannot. The project will also illustrate the need to urgently adopt regulation to protect all unmarried couples and families. The project will primarily benefit the LGBT community, same-sex couples and all unmarried families who currently do not recieve equal protections under the law by continuously advocating for the need to create a comprehensive legislative solution, and ensuring that their needs are continuously on the political agenda.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key issues and challenges:
1.Lack of Legal Protection for Same-Sex Couples: Latvia is one of only six EU countries without any legal protection or recognition for same-sex couples. This leaves same-sex couples vulnerable, as they cannot access the same legal rights and protections as heterosexual couples.
2.Flaws in the Existing Legal System: The current legal framework does not offer an inclusive approach to family legislation. Same-sex couples face legal and bureaucratic barriers in regulating their relationships, such as the inability to formalize partnerships or secure inheritance rights.
3.Societal Attitudes and Awareness: There is a need to educate the public about the daily challenges faced by same-sex couples and the lack of equality in the current legal system. Misunderstandings, biases, and a lack of awareness contribute to the marginalization of same-sex families.
4.Non-compliance with Constitutional Court Decisions: Latvia’s Constitutional Court has made rulings in favor of more inclusive family protections, but these have not yet been fully implemented. This creates a gap between legal mandates and their enforcement.
5.Need for Urgent Family Protection Legislation: The absence of a "Life Partners" bill means that both same-sex couples and all unmarried families lack adequate legal recognition and protection, which affects areas like property rights, health care decision-making, and social benefits.
By addressing these challenges, the project seeks to push for comprehensive legal reforms and greater societal acceptance of all family structures in Latvia.
During the course of the project, a variety of activities were undertaken:
1.Campaign "Everyday Obstacles"
This campaign involved two same-sex couples who lived in unregistered partnerships and agreed to participate in a social experiment to share the daily obstacles they faced due to their unregistered status. In one family (two women), there were four children, all with the same biological mother. In the other family, there were two children, each with a different biological mother.
The social experiment defined key areas in which legal protection for these families was needed. The identified legal gaps were presented to notaries for potential solutions through notarized contracts or powers of attorney. In collaboration with the Latvian Council of Sworn Notaries, the documents were analyzed and reviewed, and the participating couples signed the relevant acts. All costs associated with the process were covered by the LGBT and Friends Association “Mozaīka,” which also provided support to the couples during the process. The conclusion of the campaign was that full legal protection could not be achieved through these means.
The results of the social experiment led to the creation of the campaign "Everyday Obstacles," which produced five short videos explaining how much time and financial resources were required for the couples to regulate their partnership within the current system, as well as highlighting the system''s shortcomings. The campaign also advocated for the need to pass the Civil Union Law and explained its significance. The campaign materials were created by Una Rozenbauma, and visual explanatory materials were produced to explain the findings of the social experiment.
Lawyers were involved in the campaign to help define and explain the legal issues surrounding the lack of protection for same-sex couples and the importance of legislative solutions.
2.Campaign "Protect All Families"
This campaign involved outdoor advertisements placed in key locations across Latvia. Due to a strong partnership with Clear Channel, one of the main locations was in a high-traffic area at 127 Brīvības Street, Riga. The campaign ran from April 21 to April 27, 2022, and additional outdoor ads were displayed from May 2 to May 15, 2022. These ads were also placed on electronic displays in prominent shopping centers like Galerija Centrs, Riga Plaza, Domina, Spice, and Spice Home from April 12 to May 1, 2022.
The timing of the campaign was coordinated to coincide with the second reading of the Civil Union Law and the lead-up to the expected third reading vote. The campaign concluded with a protest outside the Saeima on May 26, 2022, when the first-ever vote on the Civil Union Law took place. Hundreds of participants attended the protest, which was widely covered by the media. Visual materials explaining the progress of the Civil Union Law and recognition of families in Administrative Courts were also published on the "Dzīvesbiedri" Twitter and Facebook accounts.
3.Legal Analysis and Proposal Preparation
As part of the "Protect All Families" campaign, in-depth legal analysis was carried out, and proposals for necessary legal reforms were prepared. These materials helped inform the legislative process, serving as resources for both lawmakers and researchers. The project had a significant influence on the development of the Civil Union Law, which represented the furthest legislative progress ever made toward legally regulating same-sex partnerships in Latvia. Although the law was not fully passed during the project’s timeline, it moved through two readings in the Saeima, marking historic progress.
4.Advocacy and Public Participation
The project also supported a citizen-led initiative on the portal manabalss.lv titled "For the Legal Protection of All Families," which gathered nearly 24,000 signatures. Although the initiative was not advanced by the Saeima, it helped foster greater civic engagement and raised awareness about the issue. The project also organized public events, such as the final protest, to encourage political action on the Civil Union Law.
In summary, the project played a crucial role in raising awareness of the legal obstacles faced by same-sex couples in Latvia and in advocating for the adoption of inclusive family legislation. Despite not achieving full legislative success during the project, it made significant strides in advancing the conversation around the Civil Union Law and same-sex rights.
The project achieved several significant outcomes and impacts, particularly benefiting same-sex couples, the LGBT community, and society at large. Below is a description of the key activities, their results, and the beneficiaries:
Campaign “Everyday Obstacles”: This campaign highlighted the daily challenges faced by same-sex couples living in unregistered cohabitation. Two couples participated in a social experiment, sharing their experiences and the obstacles they encounter due to their unregistered status. One family, consisting of two women, was raising four children, all with one biological mother. The other family had two children, each with a different biological mother.
The experiment identified the legal areas where protection was lacking, and with the help of notaries, solutions were explored through notarized documents or powers of attorney. The Notary Council of Latvia analyzed the documents and assisted the couples in completing the necessary acts, with all expenses covered by the LGBT and Friends Association "Mozaīka." The experiment concluded that full legal protection for these families was not possible through these means alone.
Following the experiment, the "Everyday Obstacles" campaign was developed, featuring five short videos explaining the experiment''s results. These videos demonstrated how much time and financial resources were required to regulate the couples'' cohabitation, as well as the system''s shortcomings. The campaign also stressed the importance of the Civil Union Law and explained its provisions. Legal experts were involved to define and explain the lack of legal protection for same-sex couples and the need for legislative solutions.
Campaign "Protect All Families": This campaign focused on raising public awareness through outdoor advertisements, displayed in prominent locations like Brīvības Street 127 in Riga, as well as on electronic billboards in shopping centers such as Galerija Centrs, Riga Plaza, Domina, and Spice from April 12 to May 1, 2022. These ads coincided with significant legislative moments, including the second reading of the Civil Union Law.
The campaign culminated in a public protest outside the Saeima on May 26, 2022, when the third reading of the Civil Union Law was on the agenda. Several hundred people participated, and the event received extensive media coverage. The campaign also produced visual materials explaining the Civil Union Law''s progress and the legal recognition of families in Administrative Courts. These materials were published on social media to further engage the public.
Legal Analysis and Legislative Proposals: The project conducted an in-depth analysis of current laws and provided recommendations for legislative changes. This analysis contributed to the creation of the Civil Union Law package, which was a historic step for Latvia, as it was the first time legislation concerning the legal regulation of same-sex couples had advanced this far in the Saeima, with two successful readings. Although the law was not fully adopted during the project’s duration, it marked significant progress in legal discussions and public awareness.
The project materials, such as visual guides and legal analyses, are enduring and continue to serve as important resources for explaining the Civil Union Law and advocating for same-sex couples'' rights. These materials are also useful for research purposes, supporting students and researchers in understanding the legal framework.
Impact on Public Participation and Political Process: The project supported the “Manabalss.lv” initiative for the legal protection of all families, which collected nearly 24,000 signatures. Although it was not advanced further in the Saeima due to political reasons, the initiative encouraged civic engagement, raising awareness about the need for legal reforms. The project also contributed to rebuilding trust in the political process among the LGBT community and their allies.
Advocacy and Legislative Influence: Despite the Civil Union Law not being fully adopted, it progressed further than any previous partnership legislation, with two readings completed. The project played a crucial role in this development by keeping the issue on the political agenda and mobilizing public support.
Overall, the project increased public awareness, advanced legislative reforms, and engaged the LGBT community, policymakers, and the wider society in a meaningful dialogue about the rights and protections needed for same-sex couples and unmarried families in Latvia. While full legal success was not achieved during the project, it laid essential groundwork for future progress and legal reforms.