In response to the historic introduction of legal partnerships in Latvia earlier this year, a new section on partnerships has been added to the Latvian Human Rights Guide. The new addition aims to educate citizens about their rights and obligations under the Partnership Act while addressing unresolved issues that still affect couples, particularly same-sex partners.

The Guide provides clear and accessible information about the registration and legal implications of partnerships. It emphasizes that partnerships offer protections, such as decision-making in medical emergencies, tax benefits, and access to unpaid pensions, while also highlighting its limitations compared to marriage.

The section covers topics such as:

• Eligibility and Registration: Outlining the process for registering a partnership with a notary
• Rights and Obligations: Explaining the legal, economic, and social protections partnerships provide
• Unresolved Issues: Addressing areas where partnerships fall short, such as inheritance and adoption rights

The Guide shows that partnerships do not confer all the rights guaranteed by marriage – emphasising the gaps in legal recognition, particularly for same-sex couples who cannot marry under Latvian law. 

The Human Rights Guide is a free online platform for human rights education and self-help. It aims to help people understand human rights in different situations by explaining them through themes. The Guide not only helps people to learn about human rights and understand their basic issues, but also to assess whether a possible human rights violation has occurred and what to do about it. The Guide is also aimed at professional users whose work involves the application of human rights. It also serves as an aid to human rights learning for students and human rights trainers.