Latvian lawmakers recently voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at combating violence against women, including domestic abuse. This decision followed an extensive 13-hour debate in Latvia’s parliament, known as the Saeima, culminating in a vote of 56 to 32 in favor of the withdrawal. This makes Latvia the first EU member state to initiate steps towards exiting the treaty, which re-entered force in the country last year after its ratification.
Earlier this week, protests erupted in Riga, with several thousand demonstrators voicing their opposition to the move. The final decision now rests with President Edgars Rinkevics, who will determine whether to approve the law. The Istanbul Convention, ratified by the EU in 2023, was established in 2011 and mandates governments to create laws and services to eradicate all forms of violence against women.
The decision to withdraw has stirred debate within Latvia. Critics, including some political leaders and women’s rights groups, have expressed concern that this move undermines efforts to protect women’s rights, while supporters, including the opposition party Latvia First, have argued that the treaty’s focus on gender issues conflicts with family values.
Twenty-two thousand individuals have signed a petition urging the government not to abandon the treaty, and a women’s rights organization, Centrs Marta, plans to organize a protest in response. The head of the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly labeled the vote a “strategic error” that could have negative consequences for women’s rights.
President Rinkevics has stated he will evaluate the decision based on constitutional considerations, and some coalition members are contemplating an appeal to the Constitutional Court if necessary. As the situation evolves, discussions surrounding this issue continue both in Latvia and across Europe.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn09x7jpvw7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss