Organizers expect many people to turn out for protest against withdrawal from Istanbul Convention

RIGA - Although Saeima has postponed the vote on Latvia's possible withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, many people are expected to turn out for the Let's Protect Mother Latvia rally this evening, Marta Center's representative Beata Jonite told reporters.

The protest will take place in Cathedral Square at 7 p.m. tonight. Protests against Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention are also expected to take place tonight in Liepaja, Daugavpils, Cesis, as well as outside the Latvian embassies in Helsinki, Tallinn, The Hague, Vienna, Berlin and Oslo.

According to Jonite, the organizers have not received any information about potential security risks so far.

The aim of the rally is to express public opposition to possible withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and to remind society of the importance of human rights, said Jonite. The event is also meant to demonstrate unity and solidarity.

"We are protesting because we will not allow our politicians to play games with human rights and our country's international reputation," said Jonite, adding that "the damage has already been done."

Postponing Saeima's decision until next year does not solve the problem but merely delays it, said Jonite. This means that discussions on human rights in Latvia will continue for at least another year.

If the next Saeima decides to withdraw from the convention, there would still be the option to challenge the decision in the Constitutional Court or to hold a referendum, said Jonite. She believes that withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention would go against the interests of society and could negatively impact Latvia's international reputation.

"It is hard for me to imagine taking such a step back. This already points to a completely inconsistent foreign policy," said Jonite.

As reported, a majority of Saeima members on Wednesday voted to refer the bill on Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention to the next Saeima for a repeated review after President Edgars Rinkevics returned the bill to the parliament for reconsideration.

November 1, 2026 was set as the deadline for the submission of proposals for bill. Latvia will hold parliamentary elections in early October next year, and the next Saeima could assemble for its first session in early November, which means that the bill on the denunciation of the Istanbul Convention will also be reviewed by the next parliament.

LETA also reported, a bill providing for Latvia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, or the Istanbul Convention, passed the final reading in the Saeima last Thursday, with MPs of opposition factions and the coalition partner Union of Greens and Farmers voting for its adoption.

The bill on Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention was submitted by the opposition party Latvia First (LPV), and was also supported by other opposition parties - National Alliance, United List and Stability, as well as lawmakers from the ruling Greens/Farmers faction. The coalition parties New Unity and the Progressives objected to the proposal to withdraw from the Convention and voted against the bill.

Last Wednesday, about 5,000 people protested in front of the Saeima against Latvia's possible withdrawal from the Convention.

In Latvia, the Istanbul Convention entered into force on May 1 last year. The Convention 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.