Latvia plans to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention: protests in Riga!

Latvia plans to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention: protests in Riga!

On October 31, 2025, the Latvian Parliament completed its decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. This decision was made on Thursday after several hours of discussion and received support from one of the three coalition parties in the center-left government. This would make Latvia the first EU country to withdraw from the convention, which has provided an important framework for protecting women from violence since its ratification in 2024.

The Istanbul Convention is considered the first internationally binding instrument in Europe to combat violence against women and defines numerous measures to prevent and protect victims. It classifies violence against women as a serious human rights violation and calls for comprehensive measures to improve gender equality. Women's rights organizations express serious concerns that withdrawal from the convention could undermine the protection of women in Latvia.

Protests and reactions

On Wednesday, one day before the Bundestag decision, around 5,000 people demonstrated in Riga against the planned exit. The protesters make it clear how important the Istanbul Convention is for progress in the area of ​​women's rights and the protection of victims of sexual and domestic violence. Especially after ratification in 2024, the convention was seen as an important success for the government, which had placed a strong focus on women's and gender issues when it took office in September 2023.

The withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention must now be approved by President Edgars Rinkevics. This could lead to further discussions within the government and the public as the implications of this move are far-reaching.

Background to the Istanbul Convention

The Istanbul Convention, signed on May 11, 2011 by 13 states, including Austria, includes comprehensive provisions to combat all forms of violence against women, including traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage. The Convention also recognizes structural violence as a major cause of gender-based violence and calls on States Parties to promote both legal and de facto equality between women and men.

• Österreich ratifizierte die Konvention am 14. November 2013, und sie trat am 1. August 2014 in Kraft.
• Die Nationale Koordinierungsstelle „Gewalt gegen Frauen“ wurde im Sommer 2015 eingerichtet.
• Die Konvention umfasst Verpflichtungen zur Gewaltprävention, zum Schutz von Opfern und zur Strafverfolgung.

The GREVIO, the expert group monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, plays a central role in assessing the measures of the contracting states. This group can initiate specific investigations and make general recommendations, particularly in cases of serious or persistent patterns of violence. Members of this independent group are selected for their integrity and expertise in relevant areas.

Latvia's impending exit could trigger an important debate about the need and value of international instruments to protect women's rights within the EU. The coming days will show whether the government in Riga will take into account the concerns of activists.

For further information on the context and details of the Istanbul Convention, see vienna.at, bmfwf.gv.at and institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de.