The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) is calling on its coalition partner, New Unity (JV), to support Latvia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention.
In a statement distributed to the media, ZZS based its argument on a recent incident in Liepāja, where a foreign worker at a kebab shop allegedly showed unwanted attention to an 11-year-old girl. According to Latvian Public Media, the employee was dismissed from the restaurant, and after some delay, the police launched an internal inquiry into the case of inappropriate behavior toward a minor.
ZZS interprets this incident as proof that the Istanbul Convention “does not work.”
The party argues that this case falls squarely within the scope of the Convention, which aims to protect women and children from all forms of violence or harassment. ZZS claims it had sought to raise the issue with Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV) and her party during a coalition meeting, but the topic was not included in the agenda.
“If New Unity, even under such circumstances, avoids discussion and solutions related to migrants,
it only confirms doubts about the usefulness of this Convention. Therefore, ZZS calls on New Unity to support Latvia’s withdrawal from it,” the party said in its statement to the media.
ZZS further added: “If the Prime Minister and New Unity are unable to respond even when a possible case of sexual harassment involves a child, then talk about the Istanbul Convention becomes empty and meaningless. Society has the right to expect action, not silence.”
The party urged Prime Minister Siliņa to publicly explain her position, evaluate the response of responsible agencies, and review migration and public safety policies.
At the end of September,
ZZS’s vote in the Saeima to denounce the Istanbul Convention triggered serious instability within the governing coalition.
Although coalition partners have pledged to continue working together to adopt next year’s so-called “security budget,” few politicians now express confidence in Siliņa’s government’s ability to function in the long term.
In the Saeima (Latvian Parliament), New Unity currently holds 25 seats, ZZS has 16, and The Progressives have eight. The United List (Apvienotais saraksts, AS) holds 13 seats, the National Alliance (NA) has 12, while both Latvia First (LPV) and Stability! have eight deputies each.
There are also 10 unaffiliated members of parliament, some of whom support the governing coalition.
In Latvia, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention, entered into force on the 1st of May, 2023.
This international treaty obliges its signatories to develop coordinated policies to better protect women from all forms of violence, as well as to protect both women and men from domestic violence. Member states are required to ensure comprehensive assistance and protection for victims, including crisis centers, 24-hour hotlines, and specialized support centers for victims of sexual violence.
The Convention also calls for the protection and support of children who witness violence.
Read also: BNN IN FOCUS | Coalition in Latvia practically does not exist, parliament controlled by the opposition