Latvian MPs have postponed a vote on withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention until after parliamentary elections in October next year, a move welcomed by Prime Minister Evika Silinja, who opposes withdrawing from the agreement, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
Opposition parties, backed by a conservative party in the ruling coalition, have pushed for a vote on October 30 to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, which defines violence against women as a human rights violation. Opponents of the agreement say they oppose the wording in it that defines gender as a social convention. They also argue that Latvian law already provides sufficient guarantees against violence against women.
Thousands of supporters of the treaty protested in Riga last week against the withdrawal.
President Edgars Rinkėvičs has refused to sign the withdrawal. Parliament can still adopt the measure in another vote, but lawmakers have heeded Rinkėvičs' call to schedule a new vote after next year's elections.
Prime Minister Evika Silinė called the postponement "a victory for democracy, the rule of law and women's rights." "This is a victory for the Latvian people. Latvia is a reliable partner and ally and remains committed to European values," she added in the "Ex".