Latvia is a democratic republic whose government is headed by a Prime Minister and cabinet. Parliament (Saiema) elects the President as head of state for a 4-year term. In October 2006, the ruling People's Party became Latvia's first government to win re-election. It was the country's fifth post-independence general election and the first since Latvia joined the EU and NATO. A coalition of the People's Party (23 seats), the Union of Greens and Farmers (18 seats) and the First Party (10 seats) gained a majority of 51 seats in the 100-seat Parliament. Following the election, the government strengthened its position by inviting the For Fatherland and Freedom Party (8 seats) to join the coalition.

The elections, held on the basis of universal suffrage, were judged free and fair, though they excluded from running for office people who were active in the KGB or in the Communist party after 1990. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that barring a citizen and former Communist from running for Parliament violates the right to free elections and assembly. The ban, which is effective until 2014, is now being challenged in Latvian Courts. There are 19 women in Parliament. Reports cite corruption in government as widespread. Legally, the judiciary is independent, though allegations of judicial corruption are made.

Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, language or disability is prohibited, but social discrimination remains a problem for some groups. Legislation on citizenship was changed in 2006. Those who fail a Latvian language test 3 times will be denied citizenship. People without citizenship cannot vote or obtain an EU passport.

The UN Committee Against Torture reported "allegations of serious ill-treatment of persons which, in some cases, could be considered as amounting to torture, by members of the police." The government has taken steps to investigate and initiate change as a result.

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed, and the media are independent and active. The press law prohibits censorship. Primary radio and television stations are required to use the Latvian language, while secondary broadcasters can devote 20% of air time to other languages with Latvian subtitles. Internet access is not restricted.

Latvia is primarily a source and transit country for victims of trafficking. Cooperation to fight trafficking has been developed with Nordic and other European agencies, and an anti-trafficking curriculum has been introduced into secondary schools. Anti-Semitic vandalism is reported to be lessening, and has been condemned by authorities, though the extremist Latvian Nationalist Front publishes anti-Semitic statements in its newspaper.

Education is tuition-free and compulsory for 9 years for ages 7 to 15, and it remains tuition-free to age 18 for students who continue secondary educations. Some children drop out of school because their parents cannot provide the necessary school supplies and textbooks not paid for by "free education." Children whose families are unable to care for them can attend government-funded boarding schools where living conditions are described as adequate.

However, concern has been raised over the number of children in such schools because the educational standards are reported to be lower there than in other state schools. Religion is taught in public schools by unpaid representatives of various religious groups. Classes in religion are voluntary for students in both public and state-funded minority schools.

A 4-year programme begins at age 3. At this level, 1% of education is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 60%. There are 1,178 ECE teachers (98% female). The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 51 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 7 to 15, Primary school begins at age 7 and continues for 4 years. 48% of students are girls. At this level 1% of education is private. The Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) is 95%. Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 98% reach the last grade of primary school. 2% of students repeat grades. There are 7,544 primary teachers (97% female). The PTR is 14 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 11 and is completed in 8 years. At this level 1% of education is private. 38% of students in upper secondary education study in technical vocational programmes. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 87%. 1% of students repeat grades. There are 24,767 secondary teachers, 15,523 (85% female) in lower secondary and 9,244 (77% female) in upper secondary schools. The PTR is 11 : 1 in secondary schools.

48,944 students (62% female) study in tertiary institutions, for a GER of 71%. Foreign students studying in Latvia come from North America and Western Europe (1,182), Central and Eastern Europe (996), Asia (106), the Arab States (74), Latin America and the Caribbean (1) and Sub-Saharan Africa (1). At the same time 3,370 Latvian students study abroad, mainly in the Russian Federation (1,022), Germany (916), the USA (424), Estonia (305) and the UK (186).

Discrimination against persons with disabilities is illegal in education or in other state services. Curricula of special education programmes are designed to meet the needs of students with differing abilities, and alternative teaching methods are used. Children with mild disorders are integrated into regular programmes, with special classes available in schools for those who require assisted learning.

The UN Committee monitoring the Rights of the Child recommended that efforts be made to establish and implement alternatives to the institutionalisation of children with disabilities, including community-based rehabilitation programmes and home-based care. Programmes are available to assist incarcerated juveniles to continue their education.

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. Latvia has provided free education to refugee children since 2004.

In 2006, the Latvian parliament ratified the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, but with an exception that prohibits the use of minority languages in the work of government and self-government bodies and in street names. This exception was aimed mainly at the Russian language and upset Russian speakers in Latvia and outside. Education is provided in Latvian, Russian and 7 other minority languages. Under the Education Law, bilingual education is provided at the primary school level; in Russian-language secondary schools the objective is to provide more than half the course content in Latvian.

Debate continues about discrimination on the basis of ethnicity with respect to the language laws and education reforms. A shortage of qualified bilingual teachers is causing difficulty in ensuring Latvian instruction for students whose first language is not Latvian. State-funded university education is in Latvian, and student applicants whose mother tongue is not Latvian must pass a language entrance examination. Private institutions offer higher education in Russian.

The UN Committee monitoring the Rights of the Child noted that the principle of non-discrimination is not fully implemented in Latvia for children belonging to minorities, including Roma children, children with disabilities and children living in rural areas, in particular, with regard to their access to adequate health and education facilities. Living in Latvia are large minorities: Russian (677,000), Belarusian (92,000), Ukrainian (61,000) and Polish (58,000). The Roma community numbers some 13,000 to 15,000, exhibiting almost universal unemployment (95%), a high level of illiteracy and a low level of education (over 40% have only Grade 4 or lower).

Reports do not indicate any restrictions of academic freedom. Concern is noted that state-funded higher education is available in Latvian only, with other languages of study available only in private institutions.

Discrimination on the basis of employment is illegal, and employers are required to implement equal pay for work of equal value, but in practice discrimination is encountered by many women. Sexual harassment of women in the workplace is illegal but occurs, with cultural factors discouraging women from filing complaints. Domestic violence is an under-reported problem, and the police hesitate to intervene in such cases. Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation is a problem .

Latvia's Ministry for Children and Family Affairs has produced a long-term child labour policy plan encompassing the period 2004-15. A Subsistence Guarantee Fund was established in 2004. The minimum age for employment of children is age 15, though children aged 13 and 14 can work in some jobs outside school hours. Children under 18 cannot work night shifts or overtime. Children are trafficked for sexual exploitation, and child prostitution is also a problem.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, except the uniformed military and police. Trade unions bargain collectively. Collective agreements are negotiated on an industry or company level. The right to strike is recognised within certain parameters, excluding designated essential services.
Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited. The legally mandated monthly minimum wage is approximately US$146 (80 lats), which does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The actual average monthly wage is $378 (206 lats). A mandatory 40-hour maximum work week is legislated .