Latvia adopted its first National Action Plan (NAP) in 2020 for the period 2020-2025. The NAP was developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Welfare, and Ministry of Health. The various ministries also consulted with non-governmental organizations, civil society and academia to develop the NAP. The NAP highlights the interrelated nature of gender equality and peace and security and identifies the promotion of UNSCR 1325 in public administration and Latvian society as a principal objective. To further this objective, the NAP states identifies three main tasks: raising public awareness of gender equality issues and the elimination of gender-based violence, especially in the younger generation; training for the defence and internal affairs sector, including the establishment of a gender adviser position; and transfer of Latvia’s experience and knowledge. In addition to a brief implementation and monitoring and evaluation plan, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also has a communications plan to raise public awareness of the NAP and WPS agenda at large through well-known ambassadors in the field. The NAP does not have an allocated budget, but provides a detailed timeline to implement the various tasks identified.
Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Latvia does not have a recent history of armed conflict, but is a member of NATO and has participated in overseas military operations and peacekeeping missions. Latvia has been experiencing ongoing tension with Russia as a result of the latter’s military activities, including placement of troops and ballistic missiles, in the Baltic Sea Region. Between 2010 and 2019, Latvia increased its military spending by 176 percent.