01/10/2025 Equality and Non-Discrimination | Women free from violence
“It is essential that women who are victims of violence in Latvia can benefit from the protection and support mechanisms of the Istanbul Convention,” said the Chairperson of PACE's Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, Catia Polidori (Italy, EPP/CD).
“Members of Parliament sent a strong and powerful message with the ratification of the Istanbul Convention in 2024, underlining the importance of tackling gender-based violence against women in Latvia. A number of measures have already been taken by the authorities, and I am surprised to see this reality questioned,” she added.
“Parliaments should take seriously the violence that targets women, simply because they are women. This issue should not be taken lightly and used for scoring points between political parties. The real losers in this debate are women victims of violence.”
“I call on Latvian parliamentarians to act responsibly and support the Istanbul Convention, which has already proved to have a positive impact in other countries.”
Speaking at the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held in Strasbourg, France, from 29 September to 3 October 2025, Ms Polidori added: “The Istanbul Convention saves lives.”
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian Parliament has scheduled discussions this month to debate the possibility of withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention.
Latvia ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention) in 2024, alongside other 37 European countries. The European Union also became a Party to this Convention in 2023.