The Child Protection Centre (BAC) in Latvia received a record 771 submissions in 2024 regarding potential violations of children’s rights—a 9% increase from the 811 cases logged in 2023, and nearly double the 627 submissions from 2022. The surge underscores a dual trend: growing public vigilance toward child safety and mounting pressure on frontline professionals tasked with life-altering decisions for vulnerable children.
Why the surge in cases matters
The numbers reflect more than just rising reports—they signal systemic challenges. BAC’s 2024 data reveals that 55% of surveyed Latvian schoolchildren (8,286 respondents aged 11–19) report feeling “always or often” worried, while 35% experience depression and 37% anxiety regularly. Alarmingly, 42% admit they rarely know where to turn for help at school. These emotional indicators serve as “early warning signals,” BAC warns, demanding urgent attention from educators, social workers, and healthcare providers.
BAC emphasizes that child protection hinges not only on technical expertise but on “humanity and compassion.” Even small actions—like asking a child an additional question—can shape trust and well-being. The centre’s new campaign, *Your Work Changes a Child’s Future*, launched this week, aims to bolster professional confidence among specialists by recognizing their critical role. On its opening day, commuting child protection workers in Riga were greeted with messages of appreciation, while the public is encouraged to share stories of heroic professionals under the hashtag #BernaLaba.
What’s next for Latvia’s child protection system?
A possible next step could be deeper collaboration between institutions to address the emotional distress revealed in the survey. BAC’s long-term strategy, funded by the European Social Fund Plus, includes training programs until 2030 to enhance specialist competence and foster a unified approach to child participation. However, the sustainability of these efforts will depend on whether professionals can balance legal requirements with genuine empathy—a challenge highlighted by BAC’s call for “courage and emotional resilience” in daily work.
Inga Gulbe, Head of BAC’s Support Services Implementation Division, frames the stakes clearly: “Behind every decision… Are professionals whose work shapes the future of society.” The question now is whether Latvia’s system can scale support in proportion to the rising caseload—and whether early intervention will prevent long-term harm to children’s mental health, education, and social integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
[Question 1]
Why did submissions to BAC nearly double between 2022 and 2024?
The increase reflects both heightened public awareness of children’s rights and a growing workload for specialists. BAC attributes this to societal shifts, though the exact drivers (e.g., media coverage, policy changes) remain unspecified in the report.
[Question 2]
What does BAC mean by “early warning signals” in children’s emotional health?
BAC’s survey data—showing 55% of students feeling “always or often” worried—serves as an indicator that emotional distress may escalate into deeper issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) if unaddressed. Timely professional intervention is critical to mitigating long-term harm.
[Question 3]
How will BAC’s new campaign support child protection workers?
The *Your Work Changes a Child’s Future* campaign aims to strengthen professional confidence through public recognition (e.g., greetings for commuting workers) and social media engagement (#BernaLaba). Longer-term, BAC’s European Social Fund Plus-funded programs will focus on training and unified approaches until 2030.
How often do you think small, everyday actions—like a teacher’s extra question or a social worker’s follow-up call—can change a child’s trajectory? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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