Rights group denounces Latvia's recent decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention

Amnesty International on Thursday condemned the Latvian government’s decision to leave the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, warning that this move, which comes after anti-rights groups’ successful demonization of gender equality, sets a dangerous precedent and risks dismantling essential legal protections for the most vulnerable.

Amnesty International’s Senior Campaigner on Women’s Rights, Monica Costa Riba commented on the severity of Latvia’s withdrawal from the Convention, stating: “We urge the President of Latvia to do the right thing and use his veto to stop Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and advance measures to ensure its full implementation to protect wom