On 5 September, President Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Minister for Welfare Uldis Augulis at the Riga Castle. The parties discussed current developments in the social sphere in the context of the 2025 national budget.
The officials discussed the role of several responsible institutions in the process of decriminalising the use of illicit drugs among young people. "The use of illicit substances causes enormous damage to the health and development of young people. We need a solution to this issue that will meaningfully bring us closer to the goal of decreasing drug consumption across society as much as possible. The decriminalisation of illicit drug use by young people may be a potential course of action, but a comprehensive approach is required, including measures to curb the illicit circulation of drugs, as well as the provision of services and support that addresses the needs of young people and their families," said President Rinkēvičs.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the work of orphans' courts and cooperation with other state and local government institutions. They also addressed the question of whether the current institutional composition of orphans' courts effectively ensures the protection of the rights of children and persons under guardianship.
