The Advocates Condemns the Latvian Parliament’s Vote To Withdraw From the Istanbul Convention
October 31, 2025
The Advocates condemns the Latvian Parliament's vote to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a global treaty to end violence against women. The Istanbul Convention is more than protection - it's about building strong women, strong families, and strong nations. The Convention provides a concrete legal framework that:
- Protects survivors of gender-based violence
- Holds perpetrators accountable
- Promotes prevention, education, and equality
By ensuring safety, justice, and equality, it empowers women to thrive, strengthens families to be safer, and fosters societies rooted in dignity and respect. Withdrawing from it is a devastating setback. Turning away from these commitments sends a dangerous message that women's safety and equality are optional. They are not. Violence against women is a human rights violation. Every country should be strengthening these protections - not abandoning them.
We call on President Edgars Rinkevics not to sign the bill. Read more about the backlash to the Istanbul Convention here: https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/Res/A%20Rollback%20for%20Human%20Rights%20-%20The%20Istanbul%20Convention%20Under%20Attack%202.pdf
Issues:
International Advocacy
, Women's Rights
