Early and immediate assistance

In Latvia, the assistance and services for victims of human trafficking is provided by specialized non-governmental service providers Centre MARTA or Shelter “Safe House”. After identification by the service provider, victims are entitled to receive social rehabilitation service for up to 180 days. The services are similar to all victims, including children. 

The assistance includes:

• Food
• Safe accommodation
• Health services (hospitalization, if necessary)
• Social services
• Psychological assistance 
• Financial assistance
• Legal counselling, including information on the rights of the victim
• Separation from the perpetrator
• Interpretation services
• Other necessary services based on the needs of the victim

In addition, identified victims can receive five one-hour consultations with the service provider within two years after the end of the assistance. 

Child victims are furthermore entitled to education and other age-appropriate services. These services are provided by municipalities as part of asylum process.

Victim’s family members are not entitled to support services, unless they have been exploited.

Safe accommodation can be provided for victims of human trafficking during the social rehabilitation service, for up to 180 days. Victims are accommodated in flats or safe hostels. The accommodation is maintained by private companies that have contracts with the non-governmental service providers. 

In the case of a child victim, the place of accommodation is decided together with the parent or a legal guardian. If assessed safe, the child can stay with the parents or a legal guardian. In other cases the child can be placed in an accommodation provided by the service provider. 

The service providers are responsible for drafting an initial needs assessment for the identified victim. The initial needs assessment it includes assessment of health, social, counselling and educational needs. 

The plans are tailored individually and the received assistance varies case-by-case, depending on the needs of the victim. The plan can be revisited or assessed during the social rehabilitation services.

The initial needs assessment of a child victim can be done only by professionals with expertise on assisting children. A legal guardian or representative must be involved in the process. 

Third country nationals, who have been identified as victims of human trafficking, can receive a reflection period in Latvia to enable an access to the social rehabilitation service. Reflection period is regulated in the legislation On Residence of a Victim of Trafficking in Human Beings in the Republic of Latvia (2007).

The duration of the reflection period is 30 days. The duration is fixed and the reflection period cannot be extended.

Reflection period should be applied within three days after the person has been granted the status of the victim of trafficking in human beings. The police, or in some cases the prosecutor, is responsible for sending the application to the Latvian Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs that will give the reflection period. Victims, who have been identified by the non-governemental organisations must also apply reflection period through the law enforcement authorities.

The Latvian Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs needs to take the decision for granting or refusing a reflection period within five (5) working days. The victim in question and the State Border Guard need to be informed of the decision. 

The reflection period begins from the date the decision to grant it has been made. The victim and their accompanied children do not have to wait to receive the reflection period to receive the social rehabilitation services but can have them during the decion-making process. 

The reflection period alone does not create the right to the victim of human trafficking to receive the temporary residence permit.