In a landmark decision, Latvia increases time limits for victims to report childhood sexual abuse

London, 19 March 2026 – Latvia has changed its law to give victims more time to report sexual abuse experienced in childhood. This makes it more likely that victims and survivors will be able to access justice, enables support for historical abuse cases, and reduces the likelihood that perpetrators will be able to reoffend.

Latvia joins France, Germany, and Spain in the list of EU countries that have similarly extended timeframes for survivors to seek legal redress. This move comes in the midst of negotiations on an EU law that could ensure all EU countries have longer time frames for the prosecution of child abusers. Trilogue negotiations between the European Commission, the European Parliament, and member states are ongoing - the Parliament’s position is for the complete abolition of time limits, while member states are opposed.

The average age that survivors report childhood sexual abuse is 52. Due to the nature of this crime, it can take survivors decades to navigate cultural stigmas, organizational barriers, or come to terms with their abuse, and one of the psychological impacts can be repressed memories from childhood.

Under the proposed changes from the Latvian Minister of Justice, the time period for the prosecution of all childhood sexual abuse would be extended to 35 years after the victim reaches the age of majority, replacing the current 20-year limit. It extends the time limits further for the most serious cases, including rape, leaving it to the discretion of judges to decide whether to apply time limits when more than 40 years have passed since the commission of the crime.

This legislative change brings Latvia closer to the abolition of statutes of limitation for childhood sexual abuse cases, and to the position adopted by the European Parliament last June on the Directive on child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Brave Movement spokesperson, Miguel Hurtado Calvo, stated: “We strongly welcome the legislative change happening in Latvia right now. The exceptional nature of childhood sexual abuse justifies the abolition of statutes of limitation or at least their extension to a long period of time.

The person who abused me as a child was able to avoid prosecution because the statute of limitations had expired. He moved away and continued to work with children. This development in Latvia will change children's lives.

We are grateful for the Latvian Minister of Justice, Inese Lībiņa-Egnere's leadership on this issue and call on other EU Member States to follow through. Today, only 15 EU countries have fully or partially abolished statutes of limitation for childhood sexual abuse. This must change if we want to truly prevent childhood sexual abuse and offer real access to justice to survivors.”

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