Riga (Latvia), Oct. 31 (LaPresse) – The Latvian Parliament has voted in favor of withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at protecting women who are victims of violence. The vote, which followed a 13-hour debate session, comes after the treaty — in force in Latvia since 2024 — was criticized by ultra-conservative groups and parties. They accuse the treaty of promoting “gender ideology,” encouraging sexual experimentation, and having negative effects on children.
The Convention, which seeks to harmonize support for women victims of domestic violence, has been contested mainly by some political forces questioning its approach. After the vote, President Edgars Rinkevics will have several options: sending the law back to Parliament for reconsideration or calling a popular referendum. On Wednesday evening, around 5,000 people protested against the withdrawal outside the Parliament in Riga, while only about twenty demonstrators supported the decision.
The proposal to withdraw was put forward by opposition lawmakers and by the Union of Greens and Farmers, allies of the governing coalition. This has highlighted divisions within the center-right government led by Prime Minister Evika Silina, who had pledged in 2023 to ratify the treaty. Silina criticized the attempts to abandon the Convention, accusing supporters of the withdrawal of exploiting the experiences of violence victims for political purposes.
The division within the government reflects growing political tensions in Latvia, with parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2026. The decision on the future of the treaty, which has sparked widespread public debate, could have a significant impact on the stability of the coalition and on future women’s rights policies.