Latvian Parliament Ratifies the Istanbul Convention

The Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe document aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, has become a target for criticism from politicians adhering to traditional and conservative views in various countries, including Latvia. Nevertheless, on Thursday, November 30, the parliament of this Baltic country finally approved the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, as reported by Delfi.

Despite longstanding controversies spanning over a decade in Latvia regarding the ratification of this document, the decision received support from 51 deputies of the ruling coalition. To secure majority support in the parliament, Latvia's Ministry of Welfare introduced an article referring to the Latvian Constitution into the bill on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. The article now specifies, "During the implementation of the convention, Latvia will adhere to the values, principles, and norms outlined in the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, especially concerning the protection of human rights, equality of men and women, and the protection and support of marriage, family, and children."

It is essential to note that the convention does not define the legal status of same-sex marriages. The primary goal of the Istanbul Convention is to protect women from violence and support victims of domestic violence, a point emphasized repeatedly by its authors and parliamentarians in various countries where the document has stirred controversy.

In particular, Article 3(c) of the Istanbul Convention defines the term "gender" as "socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men."

As of 2023, there were only five countries in the European Union that had not ratified the document: Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Latvia. With Latvia's ratification, this number is now reduced to five.

Previously, the Latvian parliament granted permission for same-sex couples to legalize their partnerships and form families. The legal recognition of such unions will be possible starting in 2024 through amendments to the Notary Law. From the middle of next year, a notary will be able to issue a document to a same-sex couple confirming their readiness to share a common household and take care of each other.