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Self Report 2018

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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  • 1B
    Act early

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to act early upon potential conflict situations based on early warning findings and shared conflict analysis, in accordance with international law.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to make successful conflict prevention visible by capturing, consolidating and sharing good practices and lessons learnt.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Latvia contributes to international crisis management in cooperation with international partners via participation in 9 missions:

    • 3 EU civilian missions with 16 experts total (EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine; EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia; and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to introduce security sector reforms, monitor peace implementation etc) 
    • 6 military missions with 56 military personnel total (EU Training Mission to Mali; UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); EU NAVFOR Atalanta; EU NAVFOR Med Sophia; Global Coalition to defeat ISIS; and NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan) in order to provide support in security building, developing skills of security and defense personnel, support humanitarian incentives for providing safe corridor for movement of food, prevent human trafficking etc.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Changes in the overall situation and its development are documented in regular reports and assessment papers that are a good source for observing progress made, especially when they are evaluated against the functions and goals to be reached set out in the mission mandates.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Funding amounts
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Delaying implementation of the missions’ goals.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Increase personnel and engage in actions that are reachable in short term.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    • Review and adjust current activities accordingly to develop effective response and cooperation in order to reach the goals of the mission.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    • Use of smart technologies (including artificial intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to provide safer operating conditions for more expedient implementation of missions’ mandates.

  • 1C
    Remain engaged and invest in stability

    Core Commitments (3)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to improve prevention and peaceful resolution capacities at the national, regional and international level improving the ability to work on multiple crises simultaneously.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to sustain political leadership and engagement through all stages of a crisis to prevent the emergence or relapse into conflict.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    • Commit to address root causes of conflict and work to reduce fragility by investing in the development of inclusive, peaceful societies.
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Latvia politically and practically supports international efforts of peaceful negotiations and provides assistance to build resilient societies and bring tangible change.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Changes in the overall situation and its development are documented in regular reports and assessment papers that are a good source for observing progress made, especially when they are evaluated against the functions and goals to be reached set out in the missions’ mandates.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Funding amounts
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Delaying development and overall advancement of missions’ goals.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Latvia will continue to participate in international efforts to engage in crisis management and conflict resolution.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    • Willingness of all parties to abide by international law. As well as more active engagement with and by local and regional stakeholders.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    • Use of smart technologies (including artificial intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to provide safer operating conditions for more expedient implementation of missions’ mandates.

  • 2C
    Speak out on violations

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Latvia has joined numerous statements condemning human rights violations on a national capacity and as part of the EU in both the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Human resources/capacity
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The human resources capacity of Latvia is limited so we are not always able to evaluate violations of international human rights law “on the ground”. However, the impact this has on our achievements is minor thanks to the successful information exchange between EU Member States and the European Union External Action Service.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Latvia will continue to speak out on violations of international law in a national and EU capacity, and support the fight against impunity.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability

  • 2D
    Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

    Core Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Commit to speak out and systematically condemn serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations and abuses of international human rights law and to take concrete steps to ensure accountability of perpetrators when these acts amount to crimes under international law.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts, including through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability

    Latvia continues to actively express its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and advocate for the respect of international law, including the Geneva Conventions. Latvia is an advocate for cooperation with international human rights mechanisms and encourages countries to extend ‘standing invitations’ to all UN Special Procedure mandate holders. Latvia regularly raises this issue at the UN Human Rights Council and in bilateral contacts. In September 2017 the Latvian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva addressed the Human Rights Council on behalf of 60 States, calling on all Member States to issue standing invitations and improve cooperation with Special Procedures mandate holders.

    Latvia is engaged in discussions that aim to improve existing international mechanisms to better promote international law and condemn violations. Latvia advocates and itself upholds the international obligations laid out in the European Convention on Human Rights and enforced by the European Court of Human Rights.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Latvia will continue to support international efforts aimed at improving accountability and compliance, including by supporting the ICC and other international courts, as well as supporting the development of international organizations and human rights mechanisms. Latvia will continue to encourage all UN Member States who have not done so to issue a standing invitation to all UN Special Procedures.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability

  • 2E
    Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    His Excellency. Mr. Raimonds Vejonis, President of Latvia emphasized the importance of international law, urged countries to implement a rules-based global order and reiterated Latvia’s commitment to promote human rights and the rule of law at the United Nations General Debate of the 72nd Session.

    Latvia continues to actively express its support for the International Criminal Court and advocate for the respect of international law and human rights.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability

  • 3A
    Reduce and address displacement

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new approach to addressing forced displacement that not only meets immediate humanitarian needs but reduces vulnerability and improves the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugees and IDPs. Commit to implementing this new approach through coherent international, regional and national efforts that recognize both the humanitarian and development challenges of displacement. Commit to take the necessary political, policy, legal and financial steps required to address these challenges for the specific context.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Acknowledge the global public good provided by countries and communities which are hosting large numbers of refugees. Commit to providing communities with large numbers of displaced population or receiving large numbers of returnees with the necessary political, policy and financial, support to address the humanitarian and socio-economic impact. To this end, commit to strengthen multilateral financing instruments. Commit to foster host communities' self-reliance and resilience, as part of the comprehensive and integrated approach outlined in core commitment 1.
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Refugees

    Latvia provides support for refugees annually as a EU Member State and locally, connecting humanitarian needs of the refugees to their development. Activities from hosting refugees to assisting in their employment are provided to ensure refugees integrate into society.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Reports by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) are prepared regularly with assessment of the challenges. The success of integration of the refugees into society is evaluated by the local institutions working with refugees.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Preparedness
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Latvia will continue to support refugees by offering employment possibilities, integration activities, financial support (including support to children) and providing consultations.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Collective preparedness activities would facilitate achieving this transformation.

  • 3D
    Empower and protect women and girls

    Core Commitments (4)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Empower Women and Girls as change agents and leaders, including by increasing support for local women's groups to participate meaningfully in humanitarian action.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the Outcome documents of their review conferences for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Fully comply with humanitarian policies, frameworks and legally binding documents related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and women's rights.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Latvia is a strong advocate on the situation of women and girls in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

    At the UN level, a statement on behalf of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was delivered, at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women and peace and security, in October, 2017.

    Likewise, Latvia added its voice to a joint statement by Sweden and Canada on Gender and Disarmament at the First committee of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in 2017.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    It is important to keep issues of empowerment of women and girls high on the international agenda; these issues should be taken into account when providing humanitarian assistance.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Limited scope of programs in the field.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    When providing humanitarian assistance, special attention should be turned to the situation of women and girls.

    Keywords

    Gender

  • 4A
    Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Latvia commits to translate into operational terms the goal of cash-based delivery of assistance as the preferred method, where the context allows.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Cash-based programming

    In 2017, Latvia has contributed to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. In the framework of the Facility, assistance is provided to refugees of the Syria crisis, including using the approach of cash based assistance. Direct cash transfers through debit cards are delivered to the most vulnerable refugee families in Turkey to cover their everyday needs.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Assessment is based on the reports by Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) which show that the contributions lead to positive effects on the ground.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    According to Latvia's approach, humanitarian assistance is provided on an ad-hoc basis which is an obstacle in long-term planning to provide cash-based assistance.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    In providing humanitarian assistance in 2018, Latvia will consider using cash-based approach where the context allows.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Analysis on effectiveness of the cash-based assistance and communication of the results is necessary to build international donors awareness.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Latvia uses existing systems for cash-based assistance.

    Keywords

    Cash, Local action

  • 4C
    Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Latvia commits to improve synergy between humanitarian and development actors based on demonstrated comparative advantage relevant to each context.


    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis and planning towards collective outcomes

    Latvia's mid-term development cooperation policy planning document, namely, the Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines for 2016-2020, emphasize the necessity to strengthen the humanitarian and development nexus, taking into account the increasing number of protracted crises and conflicts in the world and increasing migration flows. In planning development cooperation implemented by Latvia, where possible, synergies with humanitarian aid are promoted.

    Latvia as a European Union Member State supports initiatives in combining humanitarian-development efforts both on the ground and at the policy level. The work that has been started at the EU level on the humanitarian-development nexus needs to be continued and the implementation of the nexus should begin.

    Latvia contributes to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, which includes humanitarian assistance and non-humanitarian support (education, health, infrastructure, socio-economic issues). 

    Ukraine is a key priority country of Latvia's assistance: both development cooperation and humanitarian aid are provided annually.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    • By reporting to, or using reports prepared for, UN principal organs, UN governing boards, or other international bodies
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    • Assessment is based on the reports by Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) which show that the contributions lead to positive effects on the ground.
    • Progress is assessed according to the information from bilateral embassies and project reports.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Larger funding amounts dedicated to strengthening humanitarian-development nexus would lead to stronger results and better impact. Institutional constraints, in particular different approaches used by the humanitarian and development programs hinder progress.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    • Latvia will continue to support the efforts to strengthen the humanitarian-development nexus in the EU level. 
    • Latvia will continue its contribution to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey.
    • Humanitarian-development cooperation activities in Ukraine are also considered.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Exchange of information, joint planning and implementation of humanitarian-development activities will contribute to progress.

     

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    It is positive that under the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey both humanitarian and non-humanitarian components are used as they create the ground for further development activities.

    Keywords

    Humanitarian-development nexus