Latvia
Latvia regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Latvia's criminal code contains a general penalty enhancement. Data reported to ODIHR also include offences of incitement to hatred. Data are collected by the Ministry of Interior, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Analysis and Management of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Courts Administration unit of the Ministry of Justice and the Security Police of the Republic of Latvia. Data are not made publicly available.
How hate crime data is collected
There is no specific system for police to record hate crimes, so they are registered in the same way as any other offence.
While the Prosecution Office captures hate speech cases separately (these are crimes falling under Section 78 of the Criminal Law Triggering of National, Ethnic and Racial Hatred), no statistical information is compiled on hate crimes, which are defined as crimes committed due to racist, national, ethnic or religious motives in Section 48(1)14 of the Criminal Law.
The Court Administration compiles judicial crime statistics according to the relevant criminal law section. Data on hate crimes cannot be captured separately because Latvia's hate crime provision is not a substantive offence but a sentencing provision.
International reports
Racism and xenophobia, Bias against other groups - Sexual orientation or gender identity
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The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published relevant recommendations in its "Fifth Report on Latvia."
Key observation
ODIHR observes that Latvia has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech.
