Latvia: Parliament votes to withdraw from Istanbul Convention – blow to women’s rights protection

Latvia has become the first EU country to decide to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention – a document regarded as a cornerstone of Europe’s fight against violence against women. The parliamentary decision has divided society and sparked mass protests in Riga.

Parliament votes to withdraw from Istanbul Convention

The Latvian parliament (Saeima) voted to withdraw from the so-called Istanbul Convention – an international Council of Europe treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The vote, concluded after 13 hours of intense debate, revealed deep political divisions in the country and triggered large-scale protests in the capital.

In the 100-seat unicameral parliament, 56 deputies voted in favor of withdrawal, 32 opposed, and 2 abstained. The decision was supported not only by opposition parties – including the conservative parties Latvia First (LPV), National Alliance (NA), United List (LZS), and For Stability! (S!) – but also by some members of the coalition Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), who broke ranks with the government, opposing Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and President Egils Rinkēvičs.

With this move, Latvia became the first European Union country to decide to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. So far, only Turkey has taken a similar step in 2021, which at the time drew sharp criticism from the European Commission and human rights organizations.

Ideological dispute over the definition of gender

The Istanbul Convention, adopted in 2011, recognizes violence against women as a human rights violation and obliges states to ensure protection for victims and prosecute perpetrators. The document also defines the concept of gender in a social context – as a construct influencing roles and stereotypes in relationships between women and men.

It is precisely this provision that became the focal point of the public debate in Latvia. Opponents of the convention – mainly nationalist-conservative circles – argue that the document “promotes gender ideology” and “imposes foreign values,” redefining gender in a way that contradicts the traditional social order.

“The convention does not solve the problem of violence. Protection against domestic violence existed in our law even before its ratification,” said deputy Gunārs Gutris from the Union of Greens and Farmers in an interview with Reuters.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks, who himself supported the withdrawal, argued that the treaty “leads to unnecessary social tensions” and that “the fight against violence does not require international obligations.”

Protests and civil society opposition

The parliamentary decision provoked an immediate social response. The largest demonstration in Riga in years took place, with around five thousand participants. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Latvia is not Russia!” and “Love, don’t hit,” calling for the country to remain in the convention and protect women’s rights.

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, who had advocated for staying in the treaty, personally addressed the crowd, urging the defense of European values and solidarity with victims of violence.

“Withdrawal from the convention is a devastating blow to Latvia’s position in the European Union and on the international stage,” warned Andris Suvajevs, leader of the liberal Progressives, one of the coalition parties.

Echoes across Europe

For the law withdrawing from the convention to come into effect, it must still be signed by President Egils Rinkēvičs, who has ten days to do so. The head of state can also refer the document for reconsideration or – at the request of a group of deputies – suspend its publication. So far, Rinkēvičs has not revealed his position, although he has previously expressed support for ratifying the convention as “a tool for real protection of women.”

The decision in Latvia has caused concern in the EU institutions, where the convention is seen as a pillar of European equality and human rights policy. Although opponents of the document in Riga argue that “Latvian law provides sufficient protection for victims,” many observers fear that Latvia’s parliamentary decision could set a precedent for other countries in the region, where conservative forces are gaining influence.

A symbolic moment for Eastern Europe

Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention has significance beyond national politics. It signals that tension between traditional national values and liberal European standards remains one of the region’s key disputes. For many Latvians, the parliamentary decision is a step backward – for others, a symbol of reclaiming sovereignty over moral issues.

One thing is certain: regardless of the president’s decision, Latvia has opened a new chapter in the European debate over the boundaries of ideology, identity, and human rights.

Latvia: Parliament votes to withdraw from Istanbul Convention – blow to women’s rights protection

Parliament votes to withdraw from Istanbul Convention

Ideological dispute over the definition of gender

Protests and civil society opposition

Echoes across Europe

A symbolic moment for Eastern Europe

Written by

Zofia Grosse

Shape the conversation