Around 70 people gathered outside the Latvian Embassy in Vilnius on Thursday to protest Riga’s move to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing violence against women.
Demonstrators carried signs reading “Only a weak state fears strong women”, “The convention protects, populism destroys”, “Men for women!” and “You decide, we suffer”. They chanted “Society will thrive when women no longer suffer” and beat drums in solidarity.
“We are deeply concerned by the news that Latvia’s parliament has voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, which aims to combat violence against women,” said Lėja Kalvelytė of the drumming group Rhythms of Resistance.
“Since Lithuania has not yet ratified the convention either, it is very important that no further steps backward be taken in our region in the fight for women’s rights,” she added.
The protest was organised by the Centre for Equality Advancement and Rhythms of Resistance.
Vilana Pilinkaitė-Sotirovič, an expert with the Centre for Equality Advancement, said the situation highlights how fragile democratic decisions can be.
“Latvian human rights organisations worked hard to secure the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. It was a real success story and something to celebrate,” she said. “Now there’s a backlash, where a single decision can roll back women’s safety without much thought, showing just how fragile democracy really is.”
Last week, Latvia’s parliament voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, arguing that it promotes “gender ideology” and new norms related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs vetoed the decision earlier this week. On Wednesday, lawmakers voted to pass the withdrawal bill to the next parliament for reconsideration. Latvia’s next general election is scheduled for early October 2026.
Pilinkaitė-Sotirovič said the “Istanbul Convention card” would likely be used to win votes in the upcoming election, a view echoed by Kalvelytė.
“It will be used as a political argument and a major theme in debates, where women will often be spoken about as if they weren’t in the room, and more attention will be paid to what men, right-wing, and populist politicians think,” Kalvelytė said.
“It’s important to talk about this now, to show that Latvian women are not alone in this fight. Both now and a year from now, when the issue comes up again, we’ll stand with them and support their struggle for their rights,” she added.
According to Kalvelytė, solidarity rallies also took place in other European capitals.
Latvia’s ambassador to Lithuania, Solveiga Silkalna, met with protesters and thanked Lithuanians for their support.
“We see what our neighbours are thinking and doing, and we appreciate their interest and concern,” Silkalna said. “The government of Latvia is committed to remaining part of the Istanbul Convention, and we will see how the situation develops a year from now. But we certainly understand the importance, especially these days, of upholding European values and resolving all matters democratically.”
The Istanbul Convention obliges member states to adopt consistent policies to protect women from all forms of violence and to safeguard both women and men from domestic abuse. It also requires countries to provide crisis centres, 24-hour hotlines, specialised support for victims of sexual violence, and assistance for children who witness violence.
Latvia ratified the convention in 2024. Lithuania signed it in 2013 but has not yet ratified it. In March 2024, Lithuania’s Constitutional Court ruled that the convention does not contradict the nation’s constitution.
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