about the slow development of the foster family network (1155 children placed in foster care in 2012 and 1224 children in 2014) in its Concluding Observations on Latvia. 63. Interlocutors at the Ministry of Welfare informed the Commissioner that the number of foster families was only 15 in 2003, and had grown to 585 by 2015. As to the number of children who benefited from this type of care, the authorities pointed out the gradual increase from 150 children in 2005 (the first year with available data) to 1232 in 2015. In addition, in 2015, alternative care in the form of guardianship was provided to 4620 children.57 While acknowledging this increase, the Commissioner notes that it remains insufficient for the actual needs in Latvia. 64. The Commissioner finds it important not only to increase the number of foster and guardian families, but also to provide them with adequate training and support to ensure quality care for children. In this respect, for the period 2017-2019 and on the basis of the concept “On the Improvement of the System of Adoption and Out-of-family Care” approved by the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers on 9 March 2015, the authorities plan to increase the allowances for foster parents, introduce a new form of specialised foster families to provide care for children with special needs and children victims of violence, as well as increase psychological services. Other planned activities include support for adopters and guardian families. The implementation of the planned activities requires an additional 20 million EUR funding for the three-year period. The National Development Plan for 2014-2020 further aims to raise the proportion of children living in guardianship and foster families in relation to all children being in outof-family care from 77.8% in 2011 to 85% in 2020.58 65. The Commissioner would like to highlight the Council of Europe recommendation on the rights of children living in residential institutions, which stresses that the placement of a child in them should remain the exception, and have as the primary objective the best interests of the child and his or her successful social integration or re-integration. In this context, civil society representatives in Riga have indicated that children and adults with disabilities in institutions are more likely to be subjected to abuse, including of a sexual nature. Collecting testimonies from alleged victims who have psychosocial and intellectual disabilities poses particular challenges for law-enforcement officials because of the victims’ difficulty to express their account of abuse. According to the non-governmental organisations whom the Commissioner met, law-enforcement officials often lacked the requisite training and capacity to work with this category of victims.59 66. During the visit, the Commissioner stressed to his government interlocutors the need to accelerate the process of deinstitutionalisation. In 2011, the authorities informed the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) that deinstitutionalisation of residents of social care homes had suffered due to the economic crisis affecting the country.60 The Commissioner notes that Latvia’s recovery from the crisis61 provides an opportunity for renewed efforts to move forward the stalled process. In the meantime, he calls on the relevant authorities to put in place preventive measures to strengthen the well-being of children and adults in institutions and ensure their access to justice. 67. In 2013, the government adopted Guidelines for the development of social services 2014-2020, and in June 2015 developed an Action Plan for Deinstitutionalisation for 2015-2020. Officials at the Ministry of Welfare informed the Commissioner that public policies were envisaged to strengthen the three lines of action: deinstitutionalisation, which includes the closing of at least 3 branches of State Social Care Centers; development of community-based social services; and effective governance of the system of social services. The expected results of the Action Plan include: reducing by 60% the number of children placed in long-term care institutions for periods longer than 6 months; reducing the number of children in institutions to 720; provision of social services to 3 400 children with disabilities; facilitating the transition to independent living of 700 adults with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities; and increasing the share of community-based services from 20% to 45%. 57 Data provided by the Ministry of Welfare of Latvia, 28 September 2016. 58 Annual Report 2015, Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia: Riga, 2016. Country Report on Latvia, Policy Department C - Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs, European Parliament, December 2014. 60 Report to the Latvian Government on the visit to Latvia carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 5 to 15 September 2011. 61 OECD Economic Survey of Latvia, 2015. 59 15