Less than a third of the population supports Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention - survey

RIGA - There is no majority support in society for withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, according to a study conducted by the sociological and market research company Berg Research and commissioned by New Unity.

In October this year, 49 percent of respondents rejected the idea that Latvia should withdraw from the so-called Istanbul Convention. 20 percent of respondents had difficulty giving an answer, while only 31 percent agreed with the statement that the Saeima should take a decision on withdrawal from the Convention.

Looking at the results, 54 percent of women and 42 percent of men are against withdrawal from the Convention. The idea is particularly unpopular among young people (aged 18-34), as well as among residents of Riga and Vidzeme.

Edmunds Jurevics, Chairman of the New Unity faction in the Saeima, points out that, looking at the data, it is clear that there is a significant proportion of voters from all political parties represented in the Saeima, including the opposition, who do not support withdrawal from the Convention.

"I call on my colleagues in the national minded parties, both in opposition and in position, to listen to the majority of citizens and not to the propaganda campaign put forward by pro-Kremlin parties," he urges.

New Unity that according to the Law on the Financing of Political Organizations (Political Parties), the state funding allocated to political parties can be used, among other things, for research and surveys, thus gauging public opinion on issues of national importance.

Berg Research conducted a quantitative online survey of a total of 1,008 Latvian citizens between October 10 to 20, following a statistically representative distribution of citizens by gender, nationality, age and place of residence and electoral district.

As reported, thanks to the support of the ruling coalition partner, the Union of Greens and Farmers, the Saeima at the end of September handed over to the foreign affairs committee the opposition MPs' proposal for Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. The Greens/Farmers' vote on the Istanbul Convention has shaken the stability of the government coalition, with the ruling New Unity and Progressives regarding it as a breach of the coalition agreement.

In Latvia, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence entered into force on May 1 last year. It is an international treaty that requires its Member States to develop coherent policies to better protect women from all forms of violence, as well as women and men from domestic violence. These include providing comprehensive assistance and protection for victims, crisis centers, a 24-hour crisis hotline, specialized support centers for victims of sexual violence, and protection and support for child witnesses of violence.