Latvia’s parliament postpones its decision to leave the Istanbul Convention until 2026 after the president returned the bill for reconsideration.
RIGA: Latvia’s parliament has postponed for one year its consideration of withdrawing from a key treaty combating violence against women.
Lawmakers decided on Wednesday to shelve discussion on leaving the Istanbul Convention until November 1, 2026.
The decision came after President Edgars Rinkevics returned the withdrawal bill to parliament for reconsideration on Monday.
Parliament had initially passed the bill to withdraw from the convention on October 31.
Supporters of withdrawal argued that the convention violated traditional gender norms.
That vote occurred less than two years after the treaty first came into force in Latvia.
The Istanbul Convention is designed to protect women from gender-based and domestic violence.
Rights activists and President Rinkevics had strongly criticised the initial decision to pull out.
Rinkevics said the withdrawal bill “sent a contradictory message to both Latvian society and Latvia’s allies”.
He also called for national legislation protecting women to be passed before any decision on leaving the convention.
Prime Minister Evika Silina praised parliament’s decision to delay the vote until after next autumn’s elections.
She called the postponement “a victory of democracy, rule of law and women’s rights” in a social media post.
“Latvia is a reliable partner and ally, and remains committed to European values,” Silina added.
The Council of Europe had expressed concern last Friday about Latvia’s initial withdrawal decision.
The human rights watchdog said Latvia’s move sent a “dangerous message”.
The vote delay follows both domestic protests and demonstrations throughout the Latvian diaspora.
Approximately 5,000 people protested outside parliament on October 29 against leaving the convention.
Another protest organized by women’s rights group Centrs Marta has been planned for Thursday. – AFP
