COBALT provides pro bono legal assistance to the Association of LGBT and their friends Mozaika in a landmark matter in the Constitutional Court

COBALT provided legal assistance to Association of LGBT and their friends Mozaika as Amicus Curiae in the Constitutional Court case regarding the right of same-sex couple to parental leave.

The Constitutional Court ruled that Article 155 Paragraph 1 of the Labour Law insofar as it does not grant protection and support to a child mother’s female partner in relation to birth of a child, does not conform with Article 110 Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and is void as of 1 June 2022.

The Constitutional Court found that Article 110 Paragraph 1 of the Constitution in conjunction with the principle of human dignity and the individual’s right to private life imposes an obligation on the State to protect and support same-sex partner families. Moreover, the Constitutional Court found that Article 110 Paragraph 1 of the Constitution demands that legislator ensures legal protection and social and economic protection and support measures for every family, including same-sex families.

COBALT team including Managing Partner Lauris Liepa and  Associate Gabriela Šantare was honoured to provide pro bono legal advice in this case.