Ahead of the vote in the Latvian Parliament tomorrow, the leaders of four groups of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe issued a joint statement calling on the Latvian Parliament to maintain the protection for women’s rights and lives established by the Istanbul Convention.
Statement by the Presidents of EPP/CD, SOC, ALDE and ULE political Groups at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
29 October 2025
We are seriously concerned about the plans in the Latvian Parliament to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.
The Convention is a cornerstone of the Council of Europe’s work to prevent violence against women and domestic abuse. It has helped strengthen protection and accountability across Europe and remains an essential safeguard for human rights.
We urge our Latvian colleagues to reflect carefully on the implications of such a decision and to uphold our shared European commitment to the protection of women’s rights.
Pablo HISPAN, EPP/CD Group
Frank SCHWABE, SOC
Iulian BULAI, ALDE
George LOUCAIDES, UEL
