COPENHAGEN, 2 November 2025 – Following a vote in the Latvian Parliament on 30 October to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at supporting women who are victims of violence, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons (Spain) and Special Representative on Gender Issues Dr. Hedy Fry (Canada) joined human rights groups in condemning the vote.
In a joint statement, President Pons and Special Representative Fry said the following:
“Ensuring full implementation of the Istanbul Convention is key in protecting women and girls from gender-based and domestic violence and is a prerequisite for a democratic society. The Istanbul Convention does not threaten the values of Latvian society. To the contrary, it strengthens them. It aligns Latvia with shared values committed to human rights, security, and justice. Withdrawal would isolate Latvia from these frameworks. Women’s safety and equality are non-negotiable.”
In last week’s vote, lawmakers from both the opposition and one of the governing coalition parties voted in favor of Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, with a total of 56 parliamentarians voting to withdraw from the treaty, 32 voting to remain, and two abstaining. It is now up to Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics whether to sign the motion.
“Latvia’s proposed withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is a serious setback to the protection and rights of the country’s women and girls, particularly those facing domestic violence,” Pons and Fry added. “Leaving the Istanbul Convention erodes accountability and weakens protection for women in Latvia. Not only does it weaken survivors’ trust in the system as a whole, but it also makes women solely reliant on national authorities without the international guidance.”
Adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on 11 May 2011 and entering into force on 1 August 2014, the Istanbul Convention – officially the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence – is the first European treaty specifically targeting violence against women and domestic violence.
