Latvia’s parliament took the first steps to initiate a withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, the most far-reaching international treaty to set out binding obligations to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. Supporters argued that its definition of “gender” promotes an unwanted ideology and that Latvia’s existing laws already adequately address domestic violence. The vote took place just days before GREVIO’s baseline evaluation visit to the country. Supporters of withdrawal also claim the Convention is redundant and overly intrusive, while critics – including NGOs, protesters, and the President – warn that leaving would weaken oversight and send a negative international signal.
The withdrawal is currently on hold, as thousands of people protested the decision in Riga and the President returned the law to Parliament for further review. If implemented, Latvia would become the first EU Member State to withdraw from the Convention.
Despite Latvia’s high participation of women in the labour market and in leadership positions, gender norms remain deeply traditional. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality (2023), Latvia has one of the highest proportions of people believing caregiving is a woman’s role, and one of the largest gender gaps in time spent on unpaid care work.
Much of the push appears to be politically driven, with observers describing it as a populist move tied to cultural values debates rather than to gaps in protection. At the same time, the EU has adopted a new Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, which Latvia will still be required to implement. The Directive overlaps substantially with the Istanbul Convention, though it sets only minimum standards and lacks the Convention’s broader monitoring mechanisms (GREVIO). In practice, Latvia could meet EU legal obligations while withdrawing from the Convention, but the move is largely symbolic and politically motivated rather than based on legal necessity.
Signing means a commitment to advancing legislation and policies in order to combat violence against women effectively, by withdrawing from the Convention, Latvia would also be withdrawing from these commitments and weakening the national framework designed to protect women and girls.
Now is the time to stand with women and girls in Latvia. We call on:
- Latvian lawmakers to reverse this decision and uphold their commitments under the Istanbul Convention.
- European institutions and governments to raise their voices and support Latvia in staying aligned with fundamental human rights standards.
- Civil society, activists, and individuals across Europe to continue speaking out, mobilising, and defending the rights of women and girls.
Today, on the third day on the 16 Days of Activism Agains Gender-Based Violence, LSI joins many other voices globally in urging Latvia to remain in the Istanbul Convention and protect every woman and girl from violence, discrimination, and harm.
Picture: © Copyright WAVE