Ombudswoman finds rights violations at Avots children’s home
Tuesday 22nd September 2026 on 12:15 in
Latvia
Children’s home Avots in Upper Daugava Municipality does not appear run-down, but it lacks a family atmosphere and the violations identified by the ombudswoman remain, LSM’s Latgale desk reported.
Ombudswoman Karina Palkova visited the home for a second time on Tuesday. During a meeting with Upper Daugava Municipality officials, information also emerged that the children’s home lacked medication.
Palkova said the institution appeared more like a prison than a childcare centre.
During LSM’s visit, the building did not create a visually unattractive impression. Staff members spoke Latvian, but communicated with one another in Russian. The children, who come from different families, including mixed families, also spoke Latvian fluently.
The municipality rejected the ombudswoman’s statements and disagreed with criticism of the funding allocated for staff pay, food and clothing. Municipal officials said the funding issue should be addressed to the state and that greater state support was needed.
Twenty children currently live at the Avots social support and care centre in Upper Daugava Municipality because they cannot live with their biological families for various reasons. The home also accommodates children from neighbouring municipalities.
Earlier, Palkova identified serious violations of children’s rights at a children’s home in Latgale, including inadequate food and insufficient funding for children’s needs. She wrote on Facebook that less than 200 euros had been allocated for one child for all needs throughout the year at the care centre. The money was intended to cover clothing and shoes for all seasons, as well as other daily necessities.
Palkova said this was the lowest budget allocation identified in inspections of out-of-family care institutions conducted by the Ombudsman’s Office. Upper Daugava Municipality leaders rejected the accusations, saying the ombudswoman’s statements were untimely because it was the pre-election period and could be used for political purposes.