Amnesty International has expressed strong condemnation of Latvia’s recent decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a pivotal Council of Europe treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. This move, influenced by the successful efforts of anti-rights groups to demonize gender equality principles, raises serious concerns about the dismantling of essential legal protections for vulnerable populations. Amnesty International’s Monica Costa Riba urged the Latvian President to exercise a veto and promote measures to fully implement the Convention, underscoring the need to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
Following a protracted 13-hour debate, Latvian parliamentarians voted 56 to 32 in favor of the withdrawal, signaling a significant political shift with the potential for the bill to become law pending presidential approval. Women’s rights organizations, who have been staunchly critical of the decision, argue that Latvia’s withdrawal signifies a repudiation of international safeguards and weakens institutional accountability, especially in light of the Latvian Constitutional Court’s 2021 ruling affirming the Convention’s compliance with national legal principles.
The decision comes amidst longstanding opposition from conservative and right-wing groups who claim, without substantiation, that the treaty supports controversial “gender theories” and undermines traditional family values. Despite these assertions, the scope of the Istanbul Convention is solely focused on prohibiting violence against women and domestic violence, devoid of mandates regarding marital or familial structures. These findings are echoed by recent legal analyses from the nation’s top judicial entities.
Latvia’s withdrawal aligns with a broader, troubling pattern of countries stepping back from the Istanbul Convention, reminiscent of Turkey’s early departure in 2021. The decision is especially concerning given the glaring statistics on gender-based violence within the country. A recent study by the European Institute for Gender Equality highlights that over 80% of intimate partner violence victims are women, and women also account for an overwhelming majority of rape and intimate partner homicide victims. Notably, data from Latvia prior to the Convention’s ratification indicated a sharp rise in threats and stalking incidents against women.
This development underscores the severity of retracting from frameworks designed to safeguard women’s rights, especially in nations where specific legal provisions on violence against women remain absent from the criminal code. Efforts by rights organizations and legal professionals now focus on urging Latvian leadership to reconsider this decision and uphold commitments to combating gender-based violence.
Further insight into the implications of Latvia’s decision can be found here.