Information on spousal abuse, including the availability of state protection for women [LVA23127.E]

Country Reports 1994 states the following:
Sources indicate that the problem of domestic violence against women is fairly widespread and is often connected with alcohol abuse. There is anecdotal evidence suggesting that the entire legal system, include the courts, tends to downplay the seriousness of domestic violence. Observers suggest that police are sometimes reluctant to arrest in such cases. No programs exist specifically to assist victims of domestic abuse (1995, 874).

Additional information on spousal abuse and state protection available for women could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Reference


Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

DIRB country file on Latvia.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.

Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly.

Monitor [Washington]. Bi-monthly.

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

On-line search of media sources.

Oral sources.

Transition: Events and Issues in the Former Soviet Union and East-Central and Southeastern Europe [Prague]. Bi-monthly.

Uncaptive Minds [New York]. Quarterly.

Womens's Exchange Programme International Newsbulletin [Utrecht]. Quarterly.

Women's International Network News [Lexington, Ma.]. Quarterly.