This case note analyses two judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The judgments in Valiullina and Others v. Latvia and Džibuti and Others v. Latvia were delivered in the autumn of 2023. This series of cases deals with the compatibility of the 2018 Latvian education reform with the European Convention on Human Rights. This case note focuses on two aspects of the judgments. First, it examines the question of the right to education of minorities and its relation to the right to cultural identity. In previous judgments, the Court avoided questions concerning the right of minorities to cultural identity. The recent judgments have given the Court the opportunity to address this issue. Second, I would like to look at why the Court did not follow the recommendations of international bodies, which concluded that the 2018 education reform was not in line with Latvia’s positive obligations under international law, respect for minorities and children’s rights. Instead, the Court emphasized Latvia’s prerogative to promote the unity of its education system and its constitutional identity.
European Public Law