Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Latvian capital of Riga on Thursday to oppose a bill that would see the country withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at combating domestic violence and protecting women’s rights.
Police estimated that around 10,000 people gathered in Dome Square, near the national parliament, holding banners and chanting against the proposed withdrawal. Photos and videos shared online showed the square packed with demonstrators, while smaller rallies were held elsewhere in the capital. Authorities reported no incidents.
The protest followed the Latvian parliament’s vote last week to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. However, President Edgars Rinkevics returned the bill for reconsideration earlier this week, citing widespread public concern.
The 2011 Council of Europe treaty—opened for signature in Istanbul and effective since 2014—defines violence against women as a human rights violation. It requires signatories to align national laws to better prevent and punish gender-based violence. Latvia signed the convention in 2016 and ratified it only last year.
Supporters of the withdrawal argue that the treaty’s definition of gender as a social construct conflicts with national law and traditional values. They maintain that Latvia’s existing legislation already provides sufficient protection against domestic violence.
If parliament approves the bill unchanged a second time, the president will be unable to veto it again. Lawmakers have since voted to delay further debate on the matter for a year.
Latvia has consistently recorded the highest intentional homicide rate per capita among EU countries over the past decade, Eurostat data shows. Women made up 60% of all homicide victims in the country as of 2020, with neighboring Lithuania ranking second in 2023.
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6.11.2025 pic.twitter.com/WUN78zxLN3— Marta Kotello (@MartaKotello) November 6, 2025
