On December 13 last year, President Edgars Rinkēvičs proclaimed the law ratifying the Istanbul Convention. In line with the ruling coalition's intention, the Convention was approved with the reservation that in its implementation Latvia would apply the values, principles and norms enshrined in the Constitution, in particular with regard to the protection of human rights, equality between women and men and the protection and promotion of the rights of marriage, family, parents and children.
The Convention requires Member States to develop coherent policies on violence against women and domestic violence, as well as for public authorities to implement inter-institutional cooperation with non-governmental organizations, civil society, and the media.
Latvia long remained among the very few European Union countries where the Istanbul Convention was not ratified.
On November 30 Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, supported the draft law intended to ratify the convention.
The bill was supported by 51 parliamentarians of the coalition factions, barely scraping past the required majority of votes in the 100-seat parliament.
