The Saeima Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee plans to review the citizens’ initiative urging Latvia to remain in the Istanbul Convention only on the 12th of November, even though the vote on withdrawal is scheduled two weeks earlier, according to initiative representative Megija Jaunsleine.
Jaunsleine noted that on the 10th of October, the citizens’ initiative in support of Latvia’s continued participation in the Istanbul Convention was officially submitted to Parliament with 11,409 signatures collected on the Manabalss.lv platform. Since then, almost 6,000 more people have joined, and the number of signatures continues to grow.
Despite this broad public engagement and the issue’s urgency, the Saeima decided to address the initiative only on the 12th of November, Jaunsleine emphasized. She argued that this decision fails to reflect the seriousness of the matter, as the Istanbul Convention is crucial for the safety of women and children in Latvia.
Given the widespread public support for the initiative and the growing dissatisfaction with the proposal by some political forces to withdraw from the Convention — which specifically addresses violence against women — as well as the planned protest on the 29th of October outside the Saeima, initiative representatives insist that Parliament has a duty to listen to the voice of society and act responsibly.
Jaunsleine underlined that
adherence to the Istanbul Convention strengthens Latvia’s commitment to protect women,
children, and families from violence, enhances public safety, and builds trust in the state.
As reported earlier, the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday did not yet decide whether to forward the bill on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention) for a final vote, as it did not manage to review all submitted amendments.
A total of 17 proposals had been submitted for the bill’s second reading, and the committee managed to review five during its Tuesday session. All proposals prepared by MPs from New Unity and The Progressives were rejected. The committee will continue its work on the remaining proposals tomorrow, while the final vote in Parliament is planned for Thursday, the 30th of October.
On the 23rd of October, with votes from the opposition and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), the Saeima approved in principle the bill on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. The bill was submitted by the opposition party Latvia First (LPV) and is also supported by National Alliance, United List, For Stability!, and coalition partner ZZS. The coalition parties New Unity and The Progressives oppose the withdrawal.
In the first reading, 52 MPs voted in favor of withdrawal, none voted against,
MP Didzis Šmits abstained, and MPs from New Unity and The Progressives chose not to participate in the vote.
Before the first reading, a majority of MPs decided to grant the bill urgent status, meaning it would be reviewed in only two readings. If a law is adopted under urgency with at least two-thirds of MPs voting in favor, the President cannot use the veto to suspend its promulgation.
However, the urgency motion passed with only 52 votes, fewer than two-thirds of those present — with opposition and ZZS MPs voting in favor, while 31 MPs from New Unity and The Progressives voted against, and ZZS MP Andris Bērziņš abstained.
The withdrawal bill was submitted by Latvia First (LPV) and initially lacked even an explanatory note, which the party later prepared within a few weeks. LPV argues that the current implementation of the Istanbul Convention does not provide assurance that national and local authorities effectively carry out measures to combat violence and its risks as outlined in the declaration.
The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, entered into force in Latvia on the 1st of May, 2023. It is an international treaty requiring member states to develop a coordinated policy to better protect women from all forms of violence, as well as both women and men from domestic violence. Member states must ensure comprehensive assistance and protection for victims, including crisis centers, a 24-hour hotline, specialized support centers for victims of sexual violence, and protection and assistance for children who witness violence.
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