measures ordered by the European Court of The ILGA-Europe index ranked Latvia the Human Rights, but concerns were raised that second worst EU country in which to be an the needs of asylum seekers were not being LGBTI person, referring to bias-motivated met. In November, Latvia installed a speech, violence and other forms of temporary 37km fence on its border with discrimination. Belarus. In December, the EU Commission RIGHT TO A NATIONALITY proposed allowing Latvia, Lithuania and Poland extended timescales to register and Despite legislative changes in 2020, process asylum claims, as well as simplified statelessness remained high. Close to and quicker return procedures, weakening 200,000 people held the status of “non- EU asylum procedures. By year’s end some citizens”, facing discrimination in accessing 4,045 people had been intercepted at the economic, social, cultural and other rights. border and pushed back to Belarus and RIGHT TO EDUCATION around 446 detained for entering the country irregularly. The CESCR noted an increase in the number of Roma students completing compulsory WOMEN’S RIGHTS primary education but expressed concern In June, the Constitutional Court found the about discrimination against children Council of Europe Convention on preventing belonging to minority groups and and combating violence against women and undocumented migrant children, the domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) to be exclusion of people with disabilities from in compliance with the Latvian Constitution, mainstream education, and the but no further progress towards its ratification disproportionately high number of Roma was made. children enrolled in special needs SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS programmes. Women and girls faced difficulties accessing sexual, reproductive and other essential LEBANON health information and services. The UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Republic of Lebanon Rights (CESCR) noted in particular the Head of state: Michel Aoun limited access to free contraception for Head of government: Najib Mikati (replaced Hassan adolescent girls and young women. Diab in July, who replaced Saad Hariri in July) LGBTI PEOPLE’S RIGHTS The authorities’ response to Lebanon’s After being cancelled in 2020 due to the deepening economic crisis failed to ensure Covid-19 pandemic, Baltic Pride took place residents’ right to health and even their in August. In March, the CESCR raised right to life during the most acute moments concerns that the legislative framework of fuel and medicine shortages, as it lifted continued to omit sexual orientation and subsidies while failing to roll out an gender identity as grounds for discrimination. effective social protection scheme to help Parliament failed to legislate to recognize and mitigate the impact of these policies. protect the rights of same-sex couples, Impunity continued to protect perpetrators despite consecutive Constitutional Court of murder, torture and the devastating rulings confirming this obligation was explosion in 2020 at the port in the capital, enshrined in the Constitution. In December, Beirut. Authorities used terrorism-related the Supreme Court concluded that charges to prosecute protesters in Tripoli administrative courts may temporarily provide demanding socio-economic rights. Migrant such recognition and protection pending workers, particularly women domestic legislation. workers, continued to have their rights Amnesty International Report 2021/22 229