26.05.2008.

Information for adopters of foreign countries (foreigners or persons who are living in foreign countries), who want to submit the application for adoption in Latvia

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs (henceforth – the Ministry), by evaluating the up today cooperation with receiving states of adoptable children, would like to inform about the tendencies of adoption in Latvia. As well we would like to make a several proposals about the further cooperation with the Central Authorities and officially accredited bodies of foreign countries (adopter from foreign country can submit his application for adoption in the Ministry in person only if his state of residence has not joined the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption) in the field of intercountry adoption.

25.01.2008.

On 18^th January, from 10.30 a.m. till 5 p.m. in hotel ‘Riga’  the Councils' of Europe  international presentation about evolution of youth affairs in Latvia has taken place. Youth affair’s experts from European Council, state and government representatives, also youth affair workers and activists from youth organizations have participated this presentation.

24.01.2008.

04.12.2007.

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs of the Republic of Latvia launched a new website www.jaunatneslietas.lv last week. Ministry hopes this internet resource will provide youth with all the necessary information about NVOs, volunteering, getting involved in youth related projects and other relevant activities.  

04.12.2007.

30.11.2007.

Several youth organizations have agreed to ask members of Latvian Parliament to reconsider recently approved Bill of Youth Policy in Latvia, which states that the term youth should be applied to people aged 13 – 30. They say the age limit must be lowered to 25 instead of 30.  

According to the representatives of the youth organizations, it is “incorrect to describe 30 year olds as youth since they are psychologically and socially fully developed individuals”.  

30.11.2007.

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs of the Republic of Latvia (CM) informs: 72 children adopted locally in 2007 (January 1 – November 20). It exceeds the number of local adoptions in the same time period last year when there were 72 registered adoptions. More families are choosing to adopt more than 1 child – 7 families in 2007 compared to only 4 in 2006.

At the present time, the waiting time for persons who have expressed their interest in adopting a child from Latvia is approx. 3 months after registering with the CM.

The number of international adoptions is in decline – from 125 in 2006 to 100 in 2007.

27.11.2007.

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, SIA Fixman and the Organization of Latvian Landscape Architects will hold a conference “Playground Construction – Safety and Advice”.   

SIA Fixmann – the official dealer of Finnish playground construction company Lappset Group Oy – will introduce the European Union safety regulations of the playground safety requirements, as well as latest innovations in playground planning and construction. 

The conference took place on November 22, in Riga Graduate School of Law, Strelnieku str. 4k-2.

15.11.2007.

In order for young people to gain necessary funding and support so that they could bring their various projects and ideas to life, minister Ainars Bastiks advised them to “prove themselves trustworthy first”. It was said during a meeting which brought leaders from 15 youth organizations to The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs on November 14 to discuss corporation with the Latvian youth NVOs and governmental institutions.

23.11.2007.

Ministry of Children and Family Affairs (MC) will award seven family friendly companies with the Family Friendly Merchant (FFM) certificate. These certificates are awarded by a special commission to the qualifying companies, and it gives permission to use the FFM logo. The FFM award was established in 2007 to promote family friendly values in business and commerce.

10.11.2007.

High school students from all across the country gathered for a conference Mediation – what is it?  on November 9 in Riga, where they were introduced to techniques of mediation as a highly efficient way of solving problems among their peers.

Students participated in several workshops, perfecting their mediation skills and attended several lectures on the subject.

“The aim of this conference is for the children to bring their newly acquired mediation skills back to their hometown and start solving problems avoiding traumatizing physical or psychological attacks”, said representative of  The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Gunita Viksne.

22.11.2007.

The international conference “The Portrayal of Violence in Mass Media: Causes and Consequences” will take place in the Latvian University conference room on November 30^th, 2007. The aim of this conference is to inform wider audiences about the subject of the impact of audiovisual media on human psyche - especially the negative impact on the mental health of children and youth. This problem will be discussed from both local, as well as international standpoint.

21.11.2007.

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs of the Republic of Latvia (CM) informs: 72 children adopted locally in 2007 (January 1 – November 20). It exceeds the number of local adoptions in the same time period last year when there were 72 registered adoptions. More families are choosing to adopt more than 1 child – 7 families in 2007 compared to only 4 in 2006.

20.11.2007.

The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, SIA Fixman and the Organization of Latvian Landscape Architects will hold a conference “Playground Construction – Safety and Advice”.   

15.11.2007.

In order for young people to gain necessary funding and support so that they could bring their various projects and ideas to life, minister Ainars Bastiks advised them to “prove themselves trustworthy first”. It was said during a meeting which brought leaders from 15 youth organizations to The Ministry for Children and Family Affairs on November 14 to discuss corporation with the Latvian youth NVOs and governmental institutions.

07.11.2007.

Several youth organizations have agreed to ask members of Latvian Parliament to reconsider recently approved Bill of Youth Policy in Latvia, which states that the term youth should be applied to people aged 13 – 30. They say the age limit must be lowered to 25 instead of 30.  

05.11.2007.

High school students from all across the country gathered for a conference Mediation – what is it? on November 9 in Riga, where they were introduced to techniques of mediation as a highly efficient way of solving problems among their peers.

04.10.2007.

On October 9th and 10th the annual meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)-Baltic Sea Working Group on Youth Affairs (WGYA) will take place in Riga, Latvia. For the first time there will be representatives from the UBC (Union of the Baltic Cities) - Commission on Youth and from the BSSSC - (Baltic Sea States Sub-Regional Co-operation) Working Group on Youth Policy attending the meeting and presenting their work. Both UBC and BSSSC enjoy the status of special participants of the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

See agenda for meeting in attachment

06.08.2007.

06.08.2007.

As a result of issues concerning significance, future perspectives and financing possibilities arising in public sphere about future of hotlines in Latvia, Minister of Children and Family Affairs has called for discussion representatives of hotlines, mobile operators and Lattelecom.